Marion National Cemetery
VAMC, 1700 East 38th Street
Marion, IN 46952
Phone: (765) 674-0284
FAX: (765) 674- 4521
To schedule burials: See General Information
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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 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Burial Space: This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.
Acreage: 45.1
Number of Interments Thru Fiscal Year 2008: 8,988
General Information Kiosk on Site? Yes
Floral/Ground Regulations
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Directions from nearest airport:
Marion National Cemetery, located on the east side of the Department of Veterans Affairs Northern Indiana Health Care System in the southeast section of the city, is bounded by 38th Street and Lincoln Boulevard.
From the South and Indianapolis Airport: Take the I-465 Beltway North to I-465E to I-69 North (Fort Wayne). Take Exit 59 (Gas City/Upland). Make a left turn on IN-22 (Gas City). At the intersection of 1st and Main Street, turn right and continue on 1st Street for approximately 1½ miles until it ends at a "T" intersection with 200 S. Turn left at 200 S, which becomes 38th Street. Cemetery is on the left.
From the North (Ft Wayne, IN): Go to I-69 S (Indianapolis) to Exit 64 (Marion/Montpelier). Turn right on to IN-18. Travel three miles and turn left on to County Road 400S. Travel two miles to County Road 200. Turn right on to County Road 200W. Travel approximately 1.5 miles cross railroad track and the cemetery is immediately to the left.
From the East (Muncie, IN): Go west on US-35 continue on US 35W/I 69 North (Ft Wayne). Take Exit 59 (Gas City/Upland). Make a left turn on IN-22 (Gas City). At the intersection of 1st and Main Street, turn right and continue on 1st Street for approximately 1½ miles until it ends at a "T" intersection with CR 200 S. Turn left at CR 200 S, which becomes 38th Street. Cemetery is on the left.
From the West (Kokomo, IN): Go east on IN-22 towards Marion. Turn left on IN-37 North. Continue straight on Washington Street. Make a right turn on 38th Street. Stay on 38th Street for approximately one mile. The cemetery is located on the right.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
To schedule a burial: Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a phone call to 1-800-535-1117.
Military Funeral Honors
Military Funeral Honors may be obtained through your local funeral home using Department of Defense, The American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars details.
If a funeral home is not involved in your arrangements, please call our office and one of our staff members will assist you in arranging for Military Funeral Honors.
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HISTORICAL INFORMATION
In 1888, Colonel George W. Steele, Indiana’s congressional representative, successfully convinced his colleagues in Washington, D.C., of the need for a Soldier’s Home in Grant County. Subsequently, the 31-acre Marion Branch of the National Home opened in 1889 to provide shelter and comfort for the region’s veterans. Along with the home, a cemetery was established for the interment of the men who died there. The first burial occurred two years after the home opened in May 1890. For most of its history, the cemetery at the Marion Home has quietly and efficiently cared for the needs of the nation’s veterans with few significant changes.
In 1920, the home was renamed Marion Sanatorium and in 1930, administration of the home was transferred to the newly created Veterans Administration. Additional acreage was transferred from the Veterans Health Administration twice in the cemetery’s history. Six acres were added in 1974 and six more in 1988. As of 1973, with the passage of the National Cemetery Act, the cemetery became part of the National Cemetery system and its name was changed to Marion National Cemetery. As of 2004, over 8,000 men and women have been buried in Marion National Cemetery, including Medal of Honor recipients Henry Hyde, Nicholas Irwin and Jeremiah Kuder.
Marion National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Monuments and Memorials
The Remember the Maine monument was erected in 1901 in honor of the lives lost in Cuba’s Havana Harbor during the Spanish-American War.
A monument dedicated to the Minnesota 2nd Regiment was erected at the cemetery in 1913.
A commemorative sundial was installed at the cemetery in the early 20th century.
The Carillon bell tower was erected around 1990 as part of the American Veterans international carillon program to provide living memorials in honor of American veterans.
The Vietnam Memorial was erected in 1990 and dedicated to those who fought or died in the Vietnam War.
The Blue Star Memorial Marker was donated by The Garden Club of Marion and Veteran of Foreign Wars San Mateo Post #60 and dedicated on April 23, 2005.
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NOTABLE PERSONS
Medal of Honor Recipients
Sergeant Henry J. Hyde (Indian Campaigns), Company M, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Awarded Winter of 1872-1873 (Section 1, Grave 97).
Seaman Nicholas Irwin (U.S. Navy). Onboard the USS Brooklyn, Dec. 31, 1864 (Section 1, Grave 382).
Lieutenant Jeremiah Kuder (Civil War), Company A, 74th Indiana Infantry. Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1, 1864 (Section 4, Grave 2464).
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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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