Fort Richardson National Cemetery

Fort Richardson National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Fort Richardson, Alaska. VA lists it as open for burials. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

Source: National Cemetery Administration (cem.va.gov), retrieved May 2026

History of Fort Richardson National Cemetery

Fort Richardson National Cemetery is located on the Fort Richardson Military Reservation in Anchorage, Alaska. During World War II, 39 acres of Fort Richardson were set aside for use as a temporary burial site where deceased soldiers, regardless of nationality, could be laid to rest. Under the international program for the return of war dead, most of the soldiers interred at Fort Richardson were returned to their families. There were, however, some soldiers who remained buried at Fort Richardson either because the next of kin could not be found or their families requested that they remain interred in Alaska.

In December 1946, the temporary cemetery at Fort Richardson was made a permanent site. Initially there were two sections in the cemetery. The remains of Allied soldiers were buried within a fenced area referred to as the "Allied Plot." Japanese soldiers who died in battles for the Aleutian Islands were buried outside the fence in an area designated as the "Enemy Plot." In July 1953, the 235 Japanese war dead buried at Fort Richardson were disinterred for proper cremation with appropriate Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies, under the supervision of the Japanese Embassy. In May 1981, a group of Japanese citizens in Anchorage had a new marker made to remember the soldiers who, in death, remain far from home.

Perhaps the most famous resident of Fort Richardson National Cemetery was Kermit Roosevelt, son of the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt. Kermit, who had held previous commissions in both the British and U.S. armies, was assigned to the Alaska Defense Command during World War II. He often accompanied pilots on their missions over the Aleutian Islands and played an active role in recruiting the native Alaskan tribes to join a territorial militia. Troubled by alcoholism and depression through much of his life, Major Roosevelt committed suicide at Fort Richardson June 3, 1943. His wife, Belle Roosevelt, advised then Chief of Staff General Dwight D. Eisenhower, that she wished for Kermit to be buried at the site. His father, she conveyed, had always said: "Where a tree falls, there let it lay."

On May 28, 1984, Fort Richardson Post Cemetery became Fort Richardson National Cemetery under the administration of the National Cemetery System. At the time of the transfer, all but 700 of the 2,000 gravesites had been used or reserved.

The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 2012.

Monuments and Memorials A memorial stone gateway for Major Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt, was erected around 1949. Major Roosevelt was interred at the cemetery on June 8, 1943.

The Japanese cenotaph was erected in memory of 235 Japanese soldiers who died in Alaska during World War II in the battle for the Aleutian Islands. Of the 235 soldiers buried at the cemetery, most died in the Battle of Attu. A new cenotaph was erected in September 2002 to replace the aging cenotaph that had been in place since May 1981.

Notable interments

The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery, with section and site where recorded.

Directions

From the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, travel West on International Airport Road approximately 2.9 miles to Minnesota Drive exit north. Proceed on Minnesota Drive for 6.1 miles to 6th Avenue, turn right. Proceed through town for 4.8 miles. Continue on to AK-1/Glenn Highway north to Milepost 7 at the JBER-Richardson exit. Turn left at the top of the exit ramp, proceed to the JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) military gate. If you do not have the proper credentials to enter a military installation, pull over into the Visitor's Center parking lot and get a Day Pass to visit the cemetery. A picture ID and proof of a legal vehicle will be needed inside the Visitor's Center for the DOD personnel to issue an access pass. If you have credentials, show them to the Military at the security control gate. Follow D Street 1 1/2 miles to 6th Street and turn right on 6th Street. Follow 6th Street 1/4 mile to the T intersection and turn right on Davis Highway. Travel one mile; the cemetery will be on your left.

NOTE: This cemetery is located within an active military reservation. No weapons are allowed and all vehicles are subject to search. Please obey all signage concerning speeds and troop movement.

Flowers and grounds rules

Cemetery policies are conspicuously posted and readily visible to the public.

Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing. Please leave only two arrangements at gravesite.

Who can be buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery?

VA national cemeteries accept a veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty or in training, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried), and minor or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children. National Guard and Reserve members qualify under narrower rules. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance; it does not reserve a gravesite.

What does burial here include at no cost?

• A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
• Opening and closing of the grave
• A government-provided burial liner
• A government-provided headstone or marker
• Perpetual care of the gravesite

Veterans also receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate (presented to the next of kin at the burial) and military funeral honors, which include the playing of Taps and two uniformed service members who present the flag. The committal service is held at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. National cemeteries have no viewing facilities, so the funeral itself is held elsewhere.

How do you schedule a burial at Fort Richardson National Cemetery?

1. Gather the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers, and the deceased's details (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, relationship to the veteran).
2. Fax the discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the deceased's name in the subject line.
3. You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Fort Richardson National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

Where is the Fort Richardson National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Fort Richardson National Cemetery to see the committal services planned there. It only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them. To change or cancel a burial that's already scheduled, contact Fort Richardson National Cemetery directly at 907-384-7075.

Headstone, flag and burial allowance

• Government headstone or marker: tell the scheduling office which headstone, marker, niche cover or medallion you want when you schedule the burial.
• Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008.
• Burial allowance: For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot; for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the burial allowance is up to $2,000. Claim it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. All benefits

After the funeral: survivor benefits and the estate

A surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly VA benefit, for example when the death was service connected (VA Form 21P-534EZ). The veteran's estate is settled under Alaska law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Alaska and lists each county's probate court. For the rest of the paperwork, from Social Security to bank accounts, DeathUS has a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies.

Nearest cemeteries

The three veterans cemeteries closest to Fort Richardson National Cemetery, by straight-line distance:

• Sitka National Cemetery, Sitka, AK: 584 mi, open for burials
• Metlakatla Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Metlakatla, AK: 779 mi, open for burials
• Fort Worden Post Cemetery, Port Townsend, WA: 1389 mi, closed to new in-ground burials