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VA National Cemetery

National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

2929 East Pinnacle Peak Road · Phoenix, AZ 85024

Open for burial

National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona is a VA national cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona. VA lists it as open for burials. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

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

History of National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

A state law was passed in 1976 and signed by Governor Raul Castro authorizing the development of a state veterans cemetery. The cemetery was dedicated December 9, 1978 and the first burial occurred on March 19, 1979. The cemetery was officially transferred to the VA on April 1, 1989. The cemetery consists of 225 acres and will not reach capacity until well after the year 2030. The Department of Veterans Affairs spent over $13 million for improvements in 1999. The project included three new committal shelters, maintenance building, visitor center, founders plaza, assembly area, columbaria, and extensive landscaping.

Monuments and Memorials As of 2003, there were 18 monuments and memorials at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, most arranged along a memorial walkway. Two unique memorials at the cemetery are the Eternal Flame monument, which is pyramidal in shape, and the World War II Submarine Torpedo monument.

Notable interments

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

Nathan E.

Cook, the last survivor of the Spanish American War, died in 1992 at the age of 106.

Sidney Bedoni, a native of Arizona, enlisted in the U.S.

Marine Corps on October 20, 1942. PFC Bedoni was a Navajo Code Talker in the Pacific Theater during World War II and served until January 18, 1946. Bedoni reenlisted in the Army on April 21, 1948, and fought during the Korean War. In 1988, Bedoni was promoted to sergeant major for his service. In 2001, the Navajo Code Talkers were presented with the Congressional Silver Medal. Bedoni, the last surviving Navajo Code Talker paratrooper, died June 8, 2014 .

Section 55, Site 3611

Richard Dooley, a native of Arizona, enlisted in the U.S.

Marines on October 10, 1942. Cpl. Doolie was a Navajo Code Talker in the Pacific Theater during World War II and served until December 26, 1945. In 2001, the Navajo Code Talkers were presented with the Congressional Silver Medal. Dooley's honor was posthumous. He died December 24, 1982 .

Section 12, Site 2232

Arthur J.

Hubbard Sr., a Navajo and native of Arizona, served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1939–1945). Pvt. Hubbard instructed Code Talkers during World War II. In 2001, the Navajo Code Talkers were presented with the Congressional Silver Medal. Hubbard became the first American Indian elected as an Arizona state senator (1972–1984) and he contributed to the establishment of the Navajo Nations first college, Diné College. He died February 7, 2014 .

Section 55, Site 3882

Joe Kellwood, a native of Arizona, was born in 1921 and enlisted in the U.S.

Marine Corps in October 1942. PVT First Class Kellwood served in World War II with the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific Theater. Kellwood saw action at Cape Gloucester, Peleliu and Okinawa, and he continued as a Navajo Code Talker through the war's end. In 2001, the Navajo Code Talkers were presented with the Congressional Silver Medal. After the war Kellwood returned to Arizona where he was active in veterans' organizations. He died September 5, 2016 .

Section 52, Site 161

Robert "Bert" Tallsalt of Arizona enlisted in the U.S.

Marine Corps on October 27, 1944, and served as a Navajo Code Talker in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After returning home, Tallsalt took a leadership role in the community, as a councilman representing Navajo Mountain, and as an educator. He received his degree from Utah State University and taught at the Intermountain School in Brigham City, Utah. In 2001, the Navajo Code Talkers were presented the Congressional Silver Medal. Tallsalt was active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association until his death in 2003 .

Section 18D, Site 2662

Directions

From Airport: Take Interstate 10 West to State Route 51 North. Follow State Route 51 to Loop 101 West. Following Loop 101 West to Cave Creek Road. Turn North on Cave Creek Road to Pinnacle Peak Road, turn right on East Pinnacle Peak Road and go ¼ mile. Cemetery will be on the right.

Flowers and grounds rules

Flowers: At the time of your loved one's burial, a maximum of four fresh floral arrangements or sprays may accompany the casket or urn. These will be placed on the completed grave after the interment. Items will be removed from gravesites when they appear withered, faded, unsafe, offensive, encroach on adjacent gravesites, or are otherwise unsightly.

Fresh-cut and artificial flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Arrangements may not be more than 24" high. They cannot cover the marker or encroach upon adjacent gravesites.

Who can be buried at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona?

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 National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona?

  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 National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

Where is the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona 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 National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona directly at 480-513-3600.

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

Funeral homes near National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

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. 4.4 mi from the cemetery
  2. 4.8 mi from the cemetery
  3. 5.5 mi from the cemetery
  4. Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary
    Scottsdale, AZMilitary honors services
    6.5 mi from the cemetery
  5. 6.6 mi from the cemetery
  6. 9.1 mi from the cemetery

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