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VA National Cemetery

Los Angeles National Cemetery

950 South Sepulveda Boulevard · Los Angeles, CA 90049

Closed to new in-ground burials

Los Angeles National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Los Angeles, California. VA lists it as closed to new burials. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

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

History of Los Angeles National Cemetery

The Los Angeles National Cemetery, located across from what is now the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, has grown to more than 127 acres since its late 19th century origins. The first interment dates to a few days prior to the May 22, 1889 dedication of the cemetery. In 1973, the cemetery was transferred from the then-Veterans Administration Medical Center to what was then the National Cemetery System.

The Los Angeles National Cemetery opened as one of 11 facilities operated by the Veterans Administration, on lands shared with national Veterans' homes or asylums for disabled soldiers. The Pacific Branch of the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was established in 1887 on Santa Monica ranch lands donated by Senator John P. Jones and Arcadia B. de Baker. The following year, the site grew by an additional 200 acres; in 1890, 20 more acres were appended for use as a Veterans' cemetery. By this time, with more than 1,000 Veterans in residence, a new hospital was erected in 1900. It was replaced in 1927 by Wadsworth Hospital, and a second facility, Brentwood Hospital, was also constructed in the 1920s.

Some of the cemetery's features are unique, including an administration building and adjoining Bob Hope Memorial Chapel (built in 1939–1940) and the NCA's only indoor columbarium, which was built in 1940–1941. These buildings were constructed by the Works Progress Administration in a distinctive Spanish Revival style of stucco and tile. The original gatehouse and entrance gates have been removed.

There are two canine burials at Los Angeles National Cemetery, although this practice is prohibited today. Old Bonus, an adopted pet of residents in the Soldiers' home; and Blackout, a war dog wounded in the Pacific during World War II, are both buried here.

Notable interments

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

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.

Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 434 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.

Medal of Honor recipients interred or memorialized here:

Sergeant First Class Chris Carr (World War II).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company L, 337th Infantry, 85th Infantry Division, for actions near Guignola, Italy, October 1–2, 1944. His citation was awarded under his given name, Christos H. Karaberis; he changed his name to Carr sometime later. Carr died in 1970 and is buried in Section 275, Row G, Site 15.

Sergeant George H.

Eldridge (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company C, 6th U.S. Calvary, for actions at the Wichita River, Texas, July 12, 1870. Eldridge died in 1918 and is buried in Section 37, Row B, Site 1.

Sergeant Harry Harvey (Philippine Insurrection).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for actions at Benictican, Philippine Islands, February 16, 1900. Harvey died in 1929 and is buried in Section 60, Row E, Site 4.

Sergeant Luther Kaltenbach (Civil War).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company F, 12th Iowa Infantry, for actions at Nashville, TN, December 16, 1864. Kaltenbach died in 1922 and is buried in Section 43, Row A, Site 15.

Landsman William F.

Lukes (1871 Korean Campaign). Lukes received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy, Company D, for actions during the capture of the Korean forts, June 9–10, 1871. Lukes died in 1923 and is buried in Section 7, Row F, Site 19.

Color Sergeant George McKee (Civil War).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company D, 89th New York Infantry, for actions at Petersburg, VA, April 2, 1865. McKee died in 1892 and is buried in Section 1, Row G, Site 2.

First Sergeant James McNally (Indian Wars).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company E, 8th U.S. Cavalry, for actions in vicinity of the Black Mountains, Arizona Territory, 1868 and 1869. McNally died in 1904, and is buried in Section 10, Row L, Site 10.

Sergeant Edward Murphy (Indian Wars).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company G, 1st U.S. Calvary, for actions in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory, October 20, 1869. Murphy died in 1924 and is buried in Section 44, Row 1, Site 22.

First Sergeant Edwin Phoenix (Indian Wars).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company E, 4th U.S. Calvary, for actions near Red River, Texas, September 26–28, 1874. Phoenix died in 1932 and is buried in Section 67, Row H, Site 22.

Directions

Cemetery is located near the western section of Los Angeles. From Los Angeles International Airport, take Century Blvd 1.5 miles to I-405 North. Travel 7.5 miles to the Wilshire West exit, then travel about 200 feet to Sepulveda Blvd. Turn north on Sepulveda and continue about .5 mile to cemetery entrance.

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. 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.

Education and visiting programs

More than half of VA's national cemeteries originated with the Civil War and many are closed to some burials. Other sites were established to serve World War veterans and they continue to expand. Historic themes related with NCA's cemeteries and soldiers' lots vary, but visitors should understand "Why is it here?" NCA began by installing interpretive signs, or waysides, at more than 100 properties to observe the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011–2015). Please follow the links below to see the interpretive signs for Los Angeles National Cemetery.

A National Cemetery System Los Angeles National Cemetery

Who can be buried at Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

VA lists Los Angeles National Cemetery as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.

Where is the Los Angeles National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles National Cemetery directly at 310-268-4675.

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 California law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in California 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 Los Angeles National Cemetery, by straight-line distance:

Funeral homes near Los Angeles National Cemetery

A funeral director usually arranges the burial with the cemetery. These are the closest funeral homes by straight-line distance. Each one links to its full listing on FuneralUS, our funeral home directory.

  1. 0.7 mi from the cemetery
  2. Solace Cremation
    Los Angeles, CA
    0.7 mi from the cemetery
  3. 1.0 mi from the cemetery
  4. 1.2 mi from the cemetery
  5. 2.2 mi from the cemetery
  6. 2.5 mi from the cemetery

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