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VA Information

Houston National Cemetery
General Information

10410 Veterans Memorial Drive
Houston, Texas 77038
(281) 447-8686

General Information
The Houston National Cemetery is located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston, 2 miles west of Interstate Highway 45, and 1/2 mile south of the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8). Since its opening in 1965, the Houston National Cemetery is the 10th most active of the 115 national cemeteries. Presently approximately 213 acres have been developed of the 419.2 tract of land which was purchased in 1963.

During the Spring 1996 expansion project, 13 wetland areas were developed using natural vegetation. These wetlands provide drainage while simultaneously creating a beautiful refuge for the area's wild birds and ducks. Eleven columbarium walls containing 5,004 niche spaces were also installed throughout the cemetery. Nestled within the intricate wetlands drainage system, the columbarium niches for cremated remains have provided families with an alternative method to burial.

Historical Highlights
This 13 million dollar cemetery was officially opened with a dedication program on Thursday, Dec. 7, 1965, the 24th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The dedication was the 1st program held in the cemetery Hemicycle area, which is the only known program area of this type. The Honorable Woodrow Seals, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, was the principal speaker for this ceremony. Many distinguished guest, officials from all governmental levels, officers and members of veterans organizations, military oriented organizations, their auxiliaries, and citizens of Harris County and surrounding counties were in attendance at this program.

The most prominent structure in this cemetery is called a Hemicycle. This structure has a chapel with a 75 foot bell tower at the center of two sweeping arches which enclose a courtyard. At the base of the bell tower is a platform from which many ceremonies sponsored by local veterans organizations have originated. On Memorial Day and Veterans Day, large crowds attend the special programs and visit the gravesites which are individually marked with flat, gray granite monuments. The two sweeping arches were structured with upper walkways which serve as a cover for the ground-level walkways. This area can comfortably accommodate 3,000 spectators for the ceremonies. The exposed surfaces of the Hemicycle and chapel, except for the walkways, are covered with light-colored aggregate panels, which make a picturesque setting against the green grass and blue sky.

The lawn area between the outer extremity of the Hemicycle and the circular roadway is landscaped with many varieties of shrubs and trees adapted to this area. A portion of this particular area was designated as a Medal of Honor Section by Mr. John Mahan, Director, Veterans Administration National Cemetery Service, Washington, D.C.

With a present burial rate of 9 per day, 5 days a week, over 41,000 servicemen and women, veterans' spouses and dependent children have already been buried. It is projected that burial space will be available for 1st family casketed remains beyond the year 2030.

Scheduling Services
Graveside Services are scheduled every half-hour from 9:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. Those attending services should arrive as close to the time of their service as possible to prevent the possibility of interfering with services already in progress. Services must clear their shelter area within 30 minutes of their scheduled service time to prevent the possibility of interfering with subsequent services. Services scheduled for the 2:30 P.M. time must clear the shelter area no later than 3:00 P.M. in order to allow sufficient time for cemetery personnel to properly complete the burial prior to the close of the workday.

Committal services in national cemeteries are not conducted at the actual gravesite. Services at the cemetery are held at committal shelters away from the gravesite. This is done for primarily two reasons. First, greater safety is provided for those attending the services in that the risk of personal injury incident to falling or tripping while walking to the gravesite is virtually precluded. Secondly, any curtailment or cessation of other cemetery operations in the area of the gravesite is precluded.

This cemetery has three shelter areas which are used for services held throughout the day. After the service is concluded, a cemetery caretaker will pick up the remains/cremains and transport them to the grave/niche that has been assigned. The grave is immediately filled and leveled. Viewing of the remains is not permitted at the committal shelters.

A lovely Chapel can accommodate 80-90 visitors and may be used upon request. Chapel services are allocated 1.5 hours total time for setup, viewing of the remains if desired, service time, and dismissal. There are two parking areas located by the Chapel for your convenience. Chapel arrival times available daily are 9:00 A.M.; 10:30 A.M.; and 12:00 P.M. Please be considerate of others who will attend services before and after your scheduled time.

Military Honors
Military honors are not provided by the national cemetery; however, we will assist by providing you or your funeral home with the telephone numbers and addresses of organizations that provide military honors. The core elements of the funeral honors ceremony, which will be conducted are: 1) Flag folding; 2) Flag presentation; and 3) Playing of Taps (which is often by recording). The veteran’s parent Service representative will present the flag.

Grounds Maintenance
Immediately after each interment, the grave is filled and leveled. As soon as weather permits, the site is sodded or seeded. Until growing conditions are favorable and turf has been established, burial areas my be substandard in appearance. Because the soil continues to sink after a burial, a new grave requires repeated renovation. After the grave has stabilized, the overall appearance will improve. The cemetery requests your understanding. Matters which appear to need immediate corrective action should be discussed with the cemetery director or staff.

Flowers
Artificial flowers and potted plants are permitted on graves from Nov. 10th until Feb. 15th and will be picked up when they become unsightly. Christmas flowers will remain until Jan. 20th. No items may be mounted or attached to the headstone. Permanent flower containers are not authorized for placement on the grave. Potted plants (except as above), permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, breakable objects of any kind, and similar commemorative items are not permitted on graves in national cemeteries. All unauthorized items will be removed from graves and disposed of by cemetery workers.

Please restrict your floral tributes for services at the cemetery to 6 sprays and/or potted plants, or a combination thereof. During the lawn and ground maintenance season, Feb. 15th to Nov. 10th, all floral items will be removed from the grave on the 1st and 3rd Wed. of each month. Fresh cut flowers may be placed on the graves at any time. For your convenience, metal flower container bins are located in several places within the cemetery grounds.

Flags
The United States flag is flown over national cemeteries everyday during the hours of operation. The flag is flown at half staff on the morning of Memorial Day and during interment services. Flags of any type are not permitted on the graves at any other time because of the possibilities of flag standards becoming flying missiles if struck by mowers, or becoming unsightly if left unattended. In addition, flag protocol requires that all American flags flown after dark be illuminated. One large United States flag, one large Texas flag, and a POW/MIA flag will be flown over the cemetery 24 hours a day. The funeral director is responsible for obtaining burial flags for veterans being interred at a national cemetery. There is no charge for the burial flag.

Eligibility
Burial is available for any deceased eligible veteran and for an eligible veteran's wife, husband widow, widower, minor children, and under certain conditions, for unmarried adult children. Qualified relatives of a veteran are eligible for burial in any national cemetery even though the veteran is not buried there.

Graveliners
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides for a government grave liner for 1st interments and 2nd interments if one was provided initially. The government grave liner is provided at no cost to the veteran or their family. At the Houston National Cemetery, the grave liner provided is a concrete box reinforced with steel.

Office Hours
The office will remain open during the hours of 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. Graves can be visited anytime during daylight hours.

Gratuities
All national cemetery workers are employees of the Federal Government. Accepting a tip or gratuity of any kind by a Federal employee is prohibited.

Marking of Graves
A temporary marker will be placed on the grave or niche at the time of interment and will remain until the regulation type marker can be ordered and installed. A permanent gray granite marker will be furnished free of charge by the Government without application from you. The grave marker should arrive within 3 to 4 months and will be installed promptly upon its arrival.

Optional Inscriptions
The inclusion of optional inscriptions on markers and niche plates are now authorized at government expense. Inscriptions should be in English text only, of appropriate nature and subject to cemetery approval. Length limitations of 27 characters per line for ground burials in sections utilizing flat markers, 15 characters per line for ground burials in all new sections which use upright markers, and 14 characters per line for columbarium inurnment apply.

Private Headstones
To obtain information regarding the status of headstones or markers in a private cemetery, please call 1-800-697-6947.

Burial Benefits
The gravesite and all services performed by national cemetery personnel are furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs at no expense. Cemetery personnel services include opening and closing of grave, grave liner, providing use of a funeral shelter or cemetery Chapel, a gray granite marker with appropriate inscription(s) for all decedents buried in the Houston National Cemetery, and perpetual maintenance of all gravesites.

A person who dies while on active duty is entitled to certain benefits from the military. Information about these benefits is available from the branch of the armed forces in which the person was serving at the time of death.

Some payment toward burial expenses for former members of the armed forces may, with certain limitations, be made by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistance may be obtained by contacting the VA Regional Office, 6900 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas 77030, phone number 1-800-827-1000.

Presidential Memorial Certicate
Presidential Memorial Certificates are provided for all veterans interred in national cemeteries. For assistance for burials in private cemeteries, please contact the VA Regional Office at 1-800-827-1000.

Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is administered by the Department of the Army and not the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For burial in Arlington National Cemetery, please call the Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery at (703) 695-3250 or 695-3255.

Additional Information
If additional information is required, or if you should encounter any problems with the care/maintenance of the gravesite, please call the Houston National Cemetery office at (281) 447-8686.

Directions
FROM HOUSTON - I-45 north from 610 Loop; exit West Road and turn left (to west); go ~1.5 miles to "T" intersection and turn right onto Veterans Memorial Drive; cemetery will be ~1 mile on right; go past cemetery and turn right onto T.C. Jester (at traffic light); the main gate/entrance to the cemetery will be on right.

FROM BELTWAY 8 - Exit Veteran's Memorial Drive when traveling east (when traveling west use the last free exit/Ella Blvd.); turn south (towards Houston) on Veterans Memorial Drive; go ~1/4 mile to 1st traffic light and turn left onto T.C. Jester; the main gate/entrance to the cemetery will be on right.

A Personal Note
"The grounds of the Houston National Cemetery are a significant part of our National heritage. Since the National Cemetery System's inception in 1862, they have been declared National Shrines by the Congress of the United States. We take great pride in our past accomplishments and freely promise to continue to fulfill our responsibilities to America's veterans as a matter of professional pride and personal honor.

My staff and I stand ready to assist in insuring the burial needs of the veteran and their families are met with dignity and honor."

                        Clyde E. Rowney, Former Director
                        Houston, National Cemetery