Source: National Cemetery Administration · cem.va.gov · scraped May 2026
History of Massachusetts National Cemetery
Massachusetts National Cemetery is located in Barnstable County on Cape Cod, approximately 65 miles southeast of Boston and adjacent to the Otis Air Force Base.
On June 18, 1973, Congress passed the National Cemetery Act which transferred 82 of the Army's national cemeteries to the Veteran's Administration (VA). The following year, the VA's National Cemetery System adopted the regional cemetery concept plan in which one large national cemetery would be built within each of the 10 standard federal regions, as established by the General Services Administration. A policy was also established that new cemeteries would only be created on land already owned by the federal government.
Twenty five years had passed since the government last acquired land for construction of a new national cemetery and that was in 1949 for the Willamette National Cemetery, in Oregon. No new national cemetery had been built in the New England region in nearly forty years, since 1936, when the Long Island National Cemetery opened.
During the mid-1970s, when the National Cemetery System was looking to expand, it determined that the largest veteran population in the northeast was centered in the Boston area. A search soon commenced to find a suitable site for a national cemetery, nearby. The difficult task of locating land which would be available to the government at no cost eventually led to the identification of a 749-acre tract on the 22,000-acre Otis Air Force Base as the most likely site. The base occupied land that was leased to the Department of Defense (DOD). A portion of this lease was terminated and the title for 749.29 acres was transferred to the VA's National Cemetery System in 1976. The Otis tract became the first parcel of land acquired by the National Cemetery System for the specific purpose of building a new national cemetery since 1949.
The Massachusetts National Cemetery was dedicated on October 11, 1980 and became the third new national cemetery to open in nearly 30 years. Calverton, NY, and Riverside, CA, were the first and second, respectively. The site was officially named the Veterans Administration National Cemetery of Bourne, MA, but over time the lengthy appellation changed in practice, if not in fact, to simply, Massachusetts National Cemetery.
Monuments and Memorials Massachusetts National Cemetery has a memorial trail where, as of June 2013, 50 memorials placed in memory of veterans from World War I to the modern era.
Notable interments
Veterans, public figures, and citizens of note buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded by the National Cemetery Administration.
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 Jared C.
Monti (Afghanistan). Massachusetts native Jared C. Monti (1975–2006) graduated from Bridgewater-Raynham High School in 1994. He had joined the National Guard's delayed-entry program as a junior and at 18 completed basic training. Monti was deployed five times over twelve years. On his last mission, Monti was with the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan. He was leading a 16-member intelligence-gathering team on June 21, 2006, when they encountered enemy fire. One of his soldiers was wounded, and Monti risked his own life twice to rescue him and died on a third attempt. President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Monti's family in 2009. He is buried in Section 11, Site 38.
Hospital Corpsman Richard David DeWert (Korea).
He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Navy in recognition of courageous initiative rendering medical assistance and heroic self-sacrifice in Korea, April 5, 1951. His remains were returned to the United States in October and interred in Woodlawn National Cemetery in New York. When Massachusetts National Cemetery opened, his family requested his remains be reinterred in his home state which occurred on October 14, 1987, in Section 5, Site 167.
Other Burials
Massachusetts-born Melina Olive Shaw (nee Girard) was among the 233 "Hello Girls" who served in the U.S.
Army during World War I—a status officially recognized only in the 1970s. Her French Canadian father was a physician and Olive likely learned French from his assistants. Both her parents died when she was a child, and she wed James Shaw in 1909 but the marriage was short-lived. Shaw may have studied at the Sorbonne before the war, but she was attending the New England Conservancy in 1918 when she applied for the bilingual telephone-operator position with the Army Signal Corps. After the war she worked for U.S. Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers. Private Shaw was one of eighteen living "Hello Girls" veterans honorably discharged in 1979 after 61 years. She died the following July and became the first interment at Massachusetts National Cemetery on October 14, 1980 .
Section 1, Site 1
Unknown United States Soldier.
Interred on August 4, 1990, in Section 5, Site 107. The remains were unearthed during highway excavation in South Carolina in the 1980s. He was identified as a member of the "Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry" by the buttons from his uniform. Additionally, six unknown Union soldiers interred June 10, 2006 in Section 14.
Eligibility for burial at Massachusetts 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.
Request eligibility status for:
Veteran or servicemember Spouse Dependent family member Apply online »
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
Cemetery is equal distance from Logan Airport, Boston, MA, and T. F. Green Airport, Providence, RI. From Logan Airport, take the Ted Williams Tunnel to Interstate 93 south. Follow Interstate 93 south to Interstate 24 south. Follow Interstate 24 south and exit on Interstate 495 south, which continues, into Route 25 east. Go over the Bourne Bridge—at base of bridge there is a rotary—go ½ way around rotary onto Route 28 south toward Falmouth. Continue on Route 28 south approximately four miles to a second rotary. Go ¾ way around the rotary you will see the sign leading to Massachusetts Military Reservation. Exit the rotary at this point. Entrance to cemetery is approximately ½ mile from the rotary. From T. F. Green airport take Interstate 95 North to Providence and then exit on Interstate 195 east. Follow Interstate 195 east and exit on 25 east (follow signs to Cape Cod). Go over the Bourne Bridge then follow directions above.
Floral and grounds policy
Cemetery policies are 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. 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 Massachusetts National Cemetery (by straight-line distance):
- Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery — Exeter, RI (50 mi · open)
- Woodlawn Cemetery Soldiers' Lot — Ayer, MA (79 mi · closed)
- Fort Devens Post Cemetery — Devens, MA (80 mi · closed)
Nearby veteran-friendly funeral homes
The following funeral homes within a 50-mile radius of Massachusetts National Cemetery have demonstrated a commitment to serving veterans through specialized services, VA benefits coordination, or dedicated honors details.
John-Lawrence Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 3778 Falmouth Rd. in Marstons Mills, MA. The property features well-appointed spaces including beautifully appointed rooms, visitation rooms, and john lawrence memorial chapel. Professional offerings include funeral services, cremation services, and veteran services, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,490. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,495, while direct cremation is available from $1,490.
Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals is a premier funeral home located at 50 County Road in Mattapoisett, MA. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones.
Cartmell-Davis Funeral & Cremation Service Inc. is a premier funeral home located at 373 Court Street in Plymouth, MA. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. General services start at $1,995. The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 5.0-star Google rating across 20 reviews.
Aubertine-Lopes Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 129 Allen St. in New Bedford, MA. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. Professional offerings include personalized services, veteran services, and preplanning, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,205. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $4,495, while direct cremation is available from $2,205. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic and Episcopal.
Dartmouth Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 230 Russells Mills Road in South Dartmouth, MA. The property features well-appointed spaces including flexible event space, large-capacity chapel, and modern funeral home. Professional offerings include cremation, burial, and green funerals, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $2,850. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic, Protestant (Christian), Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Asian traditions, and Hispanic traditions.
Hallett Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 273 Station Ave. in South Yarmouth, MA. The property features well-appointed spaces including on-site chapel, outdoor natural chapel, and arrangement rooms. Professional offerings include funeral services, cremation services, and traditional funeral, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,650. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,545, while direct cremation is available from $2,895. The standard basic services fee for the funeral director and staff is $3,650. Additional typical expenses include embalming ($850) and use of facilities for viewing ($400). The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically All Faiths (general mention), Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist, Quaker, and Congregational.
South Coast Chapel Mortuary is a premier funeral home located at 158 Middleboro Rd. in East Freetown, MA. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel. Professional offerings include funeral service, memorial service, and burial, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,950. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $4,000, while direct cremation is available from $3,230. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic and All Faiths.
South Coast Chapel Mortuary, LLC is a premier funeral home located at 158 Middleboro Road # Rt 18 in East Freetown, MA. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones.