Source: National Cemetery Administration · cem.va.gov · scraped May 2026
History of Fort Sill National Cemetery
Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, OK, was dedicated on November 2, 2001. The Fort Sill National Cemetery was the second national cemetery to be constructed in Oklahoma and became the 120th national cemetery to be administered by the National Cemetery Administration. Fort Sill National Cemetery lies in southwestern Oklahoma, approximately 75 miles from Oklahoma City and five miles north of Lawton. Land for the national cemetery was transferred from the Department of the Army's Ft. Sill Military Reservation in 1998.
The cemetery is situated on land that was once Indian Territory. A military reservation was staked out in January 1869 by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan and was formally established as Camp Wichita the following month. Sheridan later renamed the garrison as Fort Sill in honor of fellow West Point classmate, Brigadier General Joshua W. Sill, who died in the Battle of Stones' River during the Civil War. Fort Sill's mission was one of law enforcement for the expanding American frontier. The arrival of the Quohada Comanches to Fort Sill in June 1875 marked the end of Indian warfare of the south Plains.
In the 1890s, Apache Chief Geronimo and 341 other Apache prisoners of war were brought to Fort Sill by the government. Geronimo was granted permission to travel briefly with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show and also visited with President Theodore Roosevelt. Geronimo died of pneumonia at Fort Sill on February 17, 1909, at the age of 83 and is buried in the post cemetery at Fort Sill. Lt. Hugh L. Scott instructed the remaining Apache prisoners of war on how to build houses, raise crops and herd cattle. Many spent the remainder of their lives at Fort Sill.
The last Native American lands in Oklahoma opened for settlement in 1901 and 29,000 homesteaders registered at Fort Sill for the land lottery during July. On August 6 of that year, the town of Lawton sprang up and quickly grew to become the third-largest city in Oklahoma. As of 2005, Lawton currently is the fourth largest city in Oklahoma, having fallen behind Norman in the last census. With the disappearance of the frontier, the mission of Fort Sill gradually changed from cavalry to field artillery. The first artillery battery arrived at Fort Sill in 1902 and the last cavalry regiment departed in May 1907.
The School of Fire for the Field Artillery was founded at Fort Sill in 1911 and continues to operate today as the world-renowned U.S. Army Field Artillery School. In 2007, the Fort Bliss Air Defense was added to Fort Sill, they both operate under one umbrella called the Fires Center of Excellence. At various times, Fort Sill has also served as home to the Infantry School of Musketry, the School for Aerial Observers, the Air Service Flying School and the Army Aviation School. Today the U.S. Army Field Artillery Center at Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation to continuously serve the Southern Plains since the Indian Wars.
Notable interments
Veterans, public figures, and citizens of note buried at Fort Sill National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded by the National Cemetery Administration.
Evelyn B.
(Urich) Einfeldt was born in Kansas in 1922. She graduated from high school early, but opportunities remained scarce in the Depression. Einfeldt stayed with relatives in Iowa and found a job in a defense plant. In eight months she was a line leader. She joined the Navy in 1943 and with other WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) trained at Hunter College (NY) and Washington, D.C. WAVE Petty Officer Einfeldt worked in Dayton (OH) assembling the BOMBE, a machine used to decode German and Japanese transmissions used during World War II. By the end of the conflict, WAVES represented 2.5 percent of U.S. Navy personnel. The women were discharged in 1947 and the BOMBE project was classified until the end of the 20th century. In 1996, Einfeldt was recognized as Oklahoma's female veteran of the year. She died April 26, 2006 .
Section 33, Site 73
On April 28, 2006, Technical Sgt.
Alfred Wesley Hill's remains were laid to rest at the Fort Sill National Cemetery. TSgt Hill was missing in action for 62 years. He and eight crewmembers were onboard the B-24 bomber that disappeared after leaving Dobodura, New Guinea on an armed reconnaissance mission flying over Kavieng, New Ireland. He was last reported alive near Morobe Province, New Guinea on November 5, 1943. Remnants of all nine crewmen were found, identified, and returned to their families.
Eligibility for burial at Fort Sill National Cemetery
Planning ahead for a Veteran's or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.
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Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Directions
From Lawton Airport: Travel north on 11th Street to Lee Boulevard. Go east on Lee Boulevard to Interstate 44. Take Interstate 44 towards Oklahoma City. Take Exit 46 (last free exit) to Elgin. Follow the road approximately four miles straight across and over the train tracks, pass Doleses's Rock/Stone quarry and continue to Porter Hill at the four-way intersection (blinking light). Turn right on Highway 277 North (Meers/Porter Hill Road). Approximately two miles (at the top of the hill) turn right onto Jake Dunn Road and travel approximately one mile to the cemetery's main entrance, which will be on the left.
Floral and grounds policy
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. Natural 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.
Weapons policy
VA regulations 38 CFR 1.218 prohibit the carrying of firearms (either openly or concealed), explosives or other dangerous or deadly weapons while on VA property, except for official purposes, such as military funeral honors.
Possession of firearms on any property under the charge and control of VA is prohibited. Offenders may be subject to a fine, removal from the premises, or arrest.
Education and visiting programs
We are developing educational content for this national cemetery, and will post new materials as they become available. Visit the Veterans Legacy Program and NCA History Program for additional information. Thank you for your interest.
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Nearest cemeteries
The three closest veteran cemeteries to Fort Sill National Cemetery (by straight-line distance):
- Seaman First Class Billy Turner Veterans Cemetery — Ardmore, OK (80 mi · open)
- Seminole Nation and Veterans Memorial Cemetery — Wewoka, OK (103 mi · open)
- White Eagle Cemetery — Ponca City, OK (146 mi · open)
Nearby veteran-friendly funeral homes
The following funeral homes within a 50-mile radius of Fort Sill National Cemetery have demonstrated a commitment to serving veterans through specialized services, VA benefits coordination, or dedicated honors details.
Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 632 Southwest C Ave. in Lawton, OK. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $2,600.
Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home, Inc. is a premier funeral home located at 326 West Blakely Ave. in Rush Springs, OK. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel. Professional offerings include burial, cremation, and traditional funeral, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,998. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,495, while direct cremation is available from $2,875. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian denominations (including Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Nazarene, Assembly of God). The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 4.5-star Google rating across 2 reviews.
Hart - Wyatt Funeral Home - Walters is a premier funeral home located at 202 E Colorado Ave in Walters, OK. The property features well-appointed spaces including hart-wyatt funeral home chapel. Professional offerings include cremation services, traditional funeral service, and memorial service, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,510. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $4,725, while direct cremation is available from $2,510. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Baptist (Southern Baptist, Independent Baptist, American Baptist), Catholic, Disciples of Christ, Assemblies of God, Church of the Nazarene, United Methodist, and Presbyterian.
McRay Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 110 South 8Th Street in Chickasha, OK. The property features well-appointed spaces including mcray funeral home chapel and on-site chapel. Professional offerings include traditional funeral, church service, and chapel service, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,050. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $4,650, while direct cremation is available from $3,050. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Baptist (College Heights Baptist Church, New Life Christian Church, Verden Baptist Church, First Baptist Anadarko, First Baptist Cyril, Woodland Hills Baptist Church, Pocasset Baptist Church, Southern Baptist Chapel), Church of Christ (First and Georgia Church of Christ, Southern Oaks Church of Christ), Catholic (Holy Name Catholic Church), Methodist (Epworth United Methodist Church), Presbyterian (First Presbyterian Church), Holiness (Trinity Holiness Church), and Non-denominational (Chickasha Life Church, Gateway to Hope church).
Sevier Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 702 West Chickasha Avenue in Chickasha, OK. The property features well-appointed spaces including staterooms. Professional offerings include cremation, memorial service, and embalming, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,845. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $5,195, while direct cremation is available from $3,370. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Baptist, Methodist, and Catholic.
Becker-Rabon Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 1502 Northwest Fort Sill Boulevard in Lawton, OK. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel. Professional offerings include livestreaming, burial plots, and memorial contributions, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,080. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $4,700, while direct cremation is available from $2,080. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Baptist and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Gray Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 202 West 2Nd Street in Grandfield, OK. The property features well-appointed spaces including sunset memorial gardens cemetery and mausoleums. Professional offerings include funeral services, cremation services, and memorialization options, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,600. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $5,695, while direct cremation is available from $2,600.
Eisenhour Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 2500 North Council Road in Blanchard, OK. The property features well-appointed spaces including front lobby, chapel foyer, and chapel. Professional offerings include pre-planning services, personalized funerals, and aftercare, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,500. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $2,895, while direct cremation is available from $1,595. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Baptist. The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 5.0-star Google rating across 115 reviews.