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VA National Cemetery

Nashville National Cemetery

1420 Gallatin Pike South · Madison, TN 37115

Nashville National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Madison, Tennessee. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

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

History of Nashville National Cemetery

Nashville National Cemetery is located in Madison, TN, in Davidson County approximately six miles northeast of Nashville's city center. The tracks of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad bisect the cemetery. An easement for the right of way was granted to the railroad in perpetuity in 1912.

Most of the land for Nashville National Cemetery was acquired shortly after the Civil War. In July 1866, 45 acres were transferred to the United States from Morton B. Howell, master of the Chancery Court of Nashville, in accordance with the decree of the court. During the first few months of 1867, another 17 acres were conveyed in the same manner. The final portion, about 1-1/2 acres, was purchased by the United States in 1879 from J. Watts Judson.

The original interments were the remains of soldiers removed from temporary burial grounds around Nashville's general hospitals, as well as the Civil War battlefields at Franklin and Gallatin, TN, and Bowling Green and Cave City, KY. There are 4,141 unknowns interred at Nashville National Cemetery; Roll of Honor, No. 22.

The stone wall around the cemetery and the limestone archway at the entrance were both constructed in 1870. At one time, rumors held that the remains of three Union soldiers were entombed at the top of the archway, but there is no evidence to support this claim. The present lodge, the third constructed at the cemetery, was built near the site of the original lodge and was completed in 1931.

Nashville National Cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Monuments and Memorials Nashville National Cemetery is home to one of five monumental masonry archways that originally served as the formal entrance to national cemeteries found in the South. Three are managed by NCA: Marietta, GA, built 1883; Chattanooga, TN, built ca. 1880; and Nashville, TN, built ca. 1870. These Roman-inspired structures are approximately 35 feet high with Doric columns, a pair of ornamental iron gates, and inscriptions above. The two other memorial arches are found at Arlington National Cemetery, built 1879, and Vicksburg National Cemetery, ca. 1880, properties managed by the Department of Defense and National Park Service, respectively.

Notable interments

The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note buried at Nashville 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:

Corporal John Carr (Indian Wars).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company G, 8th U.S. Cavalry, for actions in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory, October 29, 1869. Carr died in 1891 and is buried in Section KK, Site 16550.

Private Charles P.

Cantrell (Spanish-American War). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company F, 10th U.S. Infantry, for actions at Santiago, Cuba, July 1, 1898. Cantrell died in 1948 and is buried in Section 1, Site 132.

Corporal William Franklin Lyell (Korea).

He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in recognition of gallantry and self-sacrifice near Chup'a-ri, Korea, August 31, 1951. Lyell is buried in Section 1, Site 151.

Other Burials Staff Sergeant Barry A.

Sadler, (Vietnam), U.S. Army, he wrote the famous song, "The Ballad of the Green Beret," .

Section NN, Site 64

One of the oldest private markers in the cemetery is a spire located in Section M, Site 16234, which was dedicated in memory of James Leonard of the 1st Kansas Battery.

He was killed by guerrillas on January 23, 1864 and interred on January 27, 1864.

Erastus Milo Cravath (1833–1900) was born in New York and his father was active in the abolition movement, politics and, reportedly, in the Underground Railroad.

He graduated from Oberlin College's School of Theology in 1857; in 1860 he went on to earn a graduate degree in divinity and he married. In 1863 Cravath enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving as chaplain in the 101st Ohio Infantry, which saw action in Tennessee. After he mustered out in 1865, Reverend Cravath worked as a field agent for the American Missionary Association, which helped establish Fisk University in Nashville as a liberal arts school. He was president of the university for 25 years and dedicated his career to the education of African Americans. Cravath established the Fisk Jubilee Singers and traveled abroad with them raising awareness and funds for the school. Cravath is buried in Section MM, Site 16694.

Colonel James W.

Lawless of the Kentucky Cavalry was buried in Section MM, Site 10662 on June 25, 1899. Colonel Lawless was born in Ireland and came to the United States at the age of 16.

Colonel Edward S.

Jones, Commander of the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry, was also the founder of the Department of Tennessee and Georgia Grand Army of the Republic and served as Commander for many years. He was interred in Section MM, Site 16520 in November 1886.

There are so many men and women interred here who were decorated for their bravery in action that it is impossible to list them all.

The American flag is proudly flown 24 hours a day as a symbol of our diligence to ensure that the consecrated grounds of this cemetery will remain a living trust in remembrance of the men and women who are at eternal rest.

Directions

From the Nashville International Airport travel Interstate 40 west to Briley Parkway North. Travel Briley Parkway north for approximately 10 miles to Exit 14A Gallatin Road/Madison. Cemetery will be about ¼ mile on your left. From Interstate 65, take Briley Parkway/Opryland exit and travel two miles to north and take Gallatin Road/Madison exit. Cemetery will be ¼ mile on your left.

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. 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 Nashville National Cemetery.

A National Cemetery System Nashville National Cemetery

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

Where is the Nashville National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Nashville 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 Nashville National Cemetery directly at 615-860-0086.

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

Funeral homes near Nashville 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. 0.4 mi from the cemetery
  2. Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery
    Nashville, TNMilitary honors services
    1.6 mi from the cemetery
  3. 1.8 mi from the cemetery
  4. 1.9 mi from the cemetery
  5. 2.9 mi from the cemetery
  6. 3.6 mi from the cemetery

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