Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot is a VA national cemetery in Racine, Wisconsin. 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 Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Mound Cemetery is located in Racine, WI, about two miles west of downtown. The site was used as a burial ground by American Indians, and a number of burial mounds are extant. Joseph (Antoine) Ouilmette, a French-Canadian fur trader, first laid claim to a large tract of land in Racine in 1834. Norman Clarke, another early settler, purchased a portion of Ouilmette's land in 1839. In turn, Clarke and James Kinzie, who had become dual owners of the property, sold a 35-acre parcel to the city of Racine in 1851 for use as a cemetery. The first interment in Mound Cemetery occurred later that year. Dr. Philo R. Hoy, a local physician, was instrumental in the development of the cemetery. Hoy conducted archaeological investigations on the burial mounds, and as a member of the cemetery committee, he influenced the design of the cemetery plan to ensure that the mounds would be preserved.

After its establishment, all of the burials within the city limits were exhumed and reburied at Mound Cemetery. Through the late 19th century, it served as the primary burial ground for many citizens, including the founder of Racine, Joseph Knapp.

The 0.03-acre soldiers' lot is located in lots 1, 5, and 6 within Mound Cemetery. The city of Racine sold these to the federal government in 1868 for $40.25. There are fourteen interments in the soldiers' lot, including one unknown soldier. The thirteen other soldiers were members of Wisconsin military units who either died at local hospitals or at nearby Camp Utley.

Directions

From Mitchell International Airport (24.6 miles from the cemetery): Take Wisconsin-119 West. Take the Interstate 94/US-41 exit towards Chicago. Take the Wisconsin-20 exit towards Racine/Waterford, exit #333. Turn left on Washington Avenue then turn left on West Boulevard. Follow West Boulevard to the cemetery which will be on the right side of the road.

From the South: Depart I-94/US-41 North. At exit 333, take ramp right for WI-20 toward Racine/Waterford and travel .6 miles. Turn right onto SR-20 East/Washington Avenue and travel 7 miles. Turn left onto West Boulevard and arrive at Mound Cemetery.

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.

Who can be buried at Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot?

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 Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot?

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 Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

VA lists Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.

Where is the Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot 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 Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot directly at 414-382-5300.

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 Wisconsin law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Wisconsin 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 Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot, by straight-line distance:

• Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove, WI: 14 mi, open for burials
• Forest Home Cemetery Soldiers' Lot, Milwaukee, WI: 21 mi, closed to new in-ground burials
• Wood National Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI: 22 mi, closed to new in-ground burials