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VA National Cemetery

Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery

1455 East 4th Plain Boulevard · Vancouver, WA 98663

Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Vancouver, Washington. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

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

History of Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery

Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery became a VA National Cemetery on March 6, 2020, when it was transferred to NCA by the Department of the Army in fulfillment of Executive Order 13781 and the VA's own Agency Reform plan. It was the fifth cemetery transferred to the NCA by the Army since June 2019.

Vancouver Barracks was established in 1849 as the first U.S. Army post in the Pacific Northwest. It closed as an active post in 2011. The cemetery contains more than 1,500 occupied gravesites, including U.S. military personnel, civilians, foreign personnel, German and Italian POW's, Native Americans and Unknowns.

Notable interments

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

First Sergeant James M.

Hill (Indian War Campaigns). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, 5th U.S. Cavalry, for "Gallantry in action" at Turret Mountain, AZ, on March 25, 1873. Hill died in 1919 and is buried in Section 4W, Grave 650.

First Lieutenant William W.

McCammon (American Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company E, 24th Missouri Infantry, for actions in Corinth, MS, on October 3, 1862. Citation: "While on duty as provost marshal, voluntarily assumed command of his company, then under fire, and so continued in command until the repulse and retreat of the enemy on the following day, the loss to this company during the battle being very great." McCammon died in 1903 and is buried in Section 4W, Grave 412.

Musician Herman Pfisterer (War with Spain).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company H, 21st Infantry, for actions in Santiago, Cuba, on July 1, 1898. Citation: "Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy." Pfisterer died in 1905 and is buried in Section 4E, Grave 448.

First Sergeant Moses Williams (Indian War Campaigns).

He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company I, 9th U.S. Cavalry, for actions at foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains, New Mexico, on August 16, 1881. Citation: "Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running fight of 3 or 4 hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least three of his comrades." Williams died in 1899 and is buried in Section 8W, Grave 393.

Directions

From Portland International Airport: Head northwest on NE Airport Way to merge onto I-205 N. Take exit 27 toward Vancouver, keep left at the fork and merge onto WA-14 W. In approximately 5 miles, take I-5 N toward Seattle. Take exit Fourth Plain Blvd exit, proceed East approximately one block, and the cemetery will be on the left.

Flowers and grounds rules

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.

Artificial flowers and potted plants will be permitted on graves between November 1 and March 1. As a rule, artificial flowers and potted plants will be allowed on graves for a period extending five days before through five days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day.

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

Where is the Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Vancouver Barracks 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 Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery directly at 503-273-5250.

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

Funeral homes near Vancouver Barracks 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. 0.8 mi from the cemetery
  2. 0.9 mi from the cemetery
  3. 1.0 mi from the cemetery
  4. 1.1 mi from the cemetery
  5. 1.1 mi from the cemetery
  6. 1.7 mi from the cemetery

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