National
Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
23029 North Cave Creek Road
Phoenix, AZ 85024
Phone: (480) 513-3600
FAX: (480) 513-1412 |
Office Hours:
Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Visitation Hours:
Open daily from sunrise to sunset. |
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Burial Space: This cemetery has space available
to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.
Acreage: 225
Number of
Interments Thru Fiscal Year 2005: 43,672
General Information Kiosk on Site? Yes
Floral/Ground Regulations: This
Cemetery's Regulations |
Directions
from nearest airport:
From Airport:
Take Interstate 10 West to Interstate 17 North. Follow Interstate
17 North to Loop 101 East. Following Loop 101 East to Cave Creek
Road. Turn North on Cave Creek Road to Pinnacle Peak Road, turn
East on Pinnacle Peak Road and go ¼ mile. Cemetery will be
on the right. |
GENERAL INFORMATION
Military Funeral Honors
The National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona is fortunate to have a full
time Honor Guard made up of representatives of local veterans service
organizations. They provide a 10-15 minute non-denominational service,
provide a rifle salute, and play Taps. To arrange this service, please
contact the national cemetery staff.
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HISTORICAL
INFORMATION
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.
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NOTABLE
BURIALS
Nathan E. Cook, the
last survivor of the Spanish American War, died in 1992 at the age of
106.
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FLORAL/GROUNDS
REGULATIONS
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.
Artificial flowers and potted plants will be permitted
on graves during periods when their presence will not interfere with grounds
maintenance. As a general rule, artificial flowers and potted plants will
be allowed on graves for a period extending 10 days before through 10
days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day.
Christmas wreaths, grave blankets and other seasonal adornments
may be placed on graves from Dec. 1 through Jan. 20. They may not be secured
to headstones or markers.
Permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, breakable
objects and similar items are not permitted on the graves. The Department
of Veterans Affairs does not permit adornments that are considered offensive,
inconsistent with the dignity of the cemetery or considered hazardous
to cemetery personnel. For example, items incorporating beads or wires
may become entangled in mowers or other equipment and cause injury.
Permanent items removed
from graves will be placed in an inconspicuous holding area for one month
prior to disposal. Decorative items removed from graves remain the property
of the donor but are under the custodianship of the cemetery. If not retrieved
by the donor, they are then governed by the rules for disposal of federal
property.
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