Source: National Cemetery Administration · cem.va.gov · scraped May 2026
History of St. Albans National Cemetery
St. Albans was originally part of Jamaica, Queens, and consisted primarily of farmland throughout the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. With the construction of the Long Island Railroad in the 1870s, roads, such as Linden Boulevard, were built and by the First World War, St. Albans was developed beginning with the St. Albans Golf Course, and the subsequent residential neighborhoods, consisting of English-style Tudors, Colonial Revivals and others in brick, stucco and stone.
During World War II, the St. Albans campus was occupied by a temporary Naval Hospital built to house the wounded naval personnel returning from the War. One of nine throughout the country, it carried the largest patient load by the end of the War. When originally constructed, the hospital was built to accommodate 1,500 patients, 235 civilian employees, 73 officers, 71 nurses and 317 members of the Naval Hospital Corps in 1,000 wooden buildings (Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 2008).
After the War, the Veterans Administration made the decision to build a 1,000-bed hospital at St. Albans to replace the Brooklyn Naval Hospital located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The Navy determined a portion of the new hospital would be dedicated to the treatment of cancer. Other elements of the hospital included wards, treatment and clinic buildings, an administration building, kitchen, mess hall and patient recreational facilities. The general hospital was designed to handle special treatment in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, tuberculosis, and tumors. Construction of the new hospital involved the demolition and removal of a number of the World War II-era structures. With the closure of the Brooklyn Naval Hospital, St. Albans became the only naval hospital in the New York City area available to all service branches (Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 2008).
By 1972, a portion of the hospital was given to the Veterans Administration for use as a Veterans Administration Hospital. In 1973, the Government was proposing to close the military hospital, which still included a number of wooden, barrack-like buildings that were being used for storage. The Veterans Administration transitioned the hospital to a nursing home facility in 1974 and upgraded and modernized the facility in 1977. In the same year, the Veterans Administration transferred 53 acres, with several buildings and a swimming pool, to the City of New York for use as a park (Roy Wilkins Park) (Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 2008).
The new national cemetery was constructed to meet the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) goal of increasing burial options in areas with an unserved veteran population in the New York City area, as specified by Congress, in response to the Evaluation of the VA Burial Benefits Program (August 2008) of at least 80,000, in accordance with the Service Members Civil Relief Act, also known as the Veteran's Benefit Act of 2010. It also meets the goal of the NCA's Urban Initiative which noted a gap in burial options of five urban areas across the country and created an initiative to establish new columbarium-only national cemeteries within the city's core. The project redevelops a 5.25-acre site within VA St. Albans Community Living Center (St. Albans VA Hospital) campus which consisted of an abandoned military barracks built in 1968. The new national cemetery will provide 3,760 niches and several future phases will be developed to accommodate up to 35,920 niches over a 100-year period. It will be the 9th VA national cemetery in the state of New York.
Notable interments
Veterans, public figures, and citizens of note buried at St. Albans 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 433 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.
Eligibility for burial at St. Albans 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
J.F. Kennedy International Airport to St. Albans National Cemetery. Total distance is approximately 3 miles. Take the Belt Parkway eastbound to NY-27 E/S Conduit Avenue. Immediately after the merge, turn left onto Guy R. Brewer Boulevard. Continue on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard for 0.9 miles. Turn right onto Baisley Boulevard (there is the Rochdale Village Shopping Center on the southeast corner of Guy R. Brewer Blvd and Baisley Blvd). Continue on Baisley Boulevard for 0.9 miles. Baisley Boulevard turns slightly left before crossing over Merrick Boulevard. St. Albans National Cemetery will be on the left.
Floral and grounds policy
Contact the cemetery for information regarding the floral/grounds policy.
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 St. Albans National Cemetery (by straight-line distance):
- Cypress Hills National Cemetery (Mount of Victory Plot) — Brooklyn, NY (6 mi · closed)
- Cypress Hills National Cemetery (Union Grounds Plot) — Brooklyn, NY (6 mi · closed)
- Cypress Hills National Cemetery — Brooklyn, NY (6 mi · closed)
Nearby veteran-friendly funeral homes
The following funeral homes within a 50-mile radius of St. Albans National Cemetery have demonstrated a commitment to serving veterans through specialized services, VA benefits coordination, or dedicated honors details.
Paul Lane Funeral Home Inc is a premier funeral home located at 115-33 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, NY. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 4.8-star Google rating across 38 reviews.
Paul Lane Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 11533 Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica, NY. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel, reception area, and selection room. Professional offerings include funeral services, cremation services, and memorial services, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,390. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $4,500, while direct cremation is available from $1,390.
Elcock Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 13002 Liberty Ave. in Richmond Hill, NY. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapels. Professional offerings include burial, cremation, and christian funeral service, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,255. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $2,600, while direct cremation is available from $1,255. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, and Sikh. The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 4.0-star Google rating across 25 reviews.
Bernard F. Dowd is a premier funeral home located at 16520 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica, NY. The property features well-appointed spaces including 30 car parking facility. Professional offerings include honoring veterans, preplanning, and burial, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic and Various Christian denominations. The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 3.9-star Google rating across 7 reviews.
Ryan Funeral Home Inc is a premier funeral home located at 11415 South Main Street in Trenton, NY. The property features well-appointed spaces including offices and crematory. Professional offerings include life celebration, funeral planning, and pre-planning, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,295. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $2,195, while direct cremation is available from $1,295. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian and United Methodist.
Boulevard-Riverside Chapels is a premier funeral home located at 1450 Broadway in Hewlett, NY. The property features well-appointed spaces including large-capacity chapel, modern funeral home, and flexible event space. Professional offerings include jewish funeral services, traditional funeral, and cremation, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,645. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reform Judaism, and Secular Judaism.
Fox Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 9807 Ascan Ave. in Forest Hills, NY. The property features well-appointed spaces including visitation room, restroom facilities for elderly, and restroom facilities for handicapped. Professional offerings include burial services, cremation services, and pre-planning, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,855. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,605, while direct cremation is available from $2,855. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic, Protestant (various denominations), Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism (non-Orthodox sects), and Islam (cremation forbidden, burial services offered).
Krauss Funeral Home Inc is a premier funeral home located at 1097 Hempstead Tpke in Franklin Square, NY. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. General services start at $1,000.