Fayetteville National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Fayetteville National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
located on the southern side of the city of Fayetteville
in Washington County, Arkansas
. It encompasses 14.1 acres (57,100 m²), and as of the end of 2005, had 7,126 interments.
and the Battle of Pea Ridge
. By 1871 there were 1,200 interments made in the cemetery, most of which were unidentified.
During World War II
the cemetery was enlarged and five more sections were added.
In 1989, the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation (a group of locals, veterans, and other concerned benefactors) raised enough money to purchase an additional three acres (12,000 m²) of land, and donated it to the cemetery.
Fayetteville National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on July 28, 1999.
United States National Cemetery
"United States National Cemetery" is a designation for 146 nationally important cemeteries in the United States. A National Cemetery is generally a military cemetery containing the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses but not exclusively so...
located on the southern side of the city of Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
in Washington County, Arkansas
Washington County, Arkansas
Washington County is a county located in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 203,065. The county seat is Fayetteville. Washington County is Arkansas's 17th county, formed on October 17, 1828, and named for George Washington, the first President of the...
. It encompasses 14.1 acres (57,100 m²), and as of the end of 2005, had 7,126 interments.
History
The original plot of 5 acres (20,000 m²) of land for the National Cemetery was purchased from local residents in 1867, it was laid out in sections with space for around 1,800 interments. The first interments were remains moved from battlefield cemeteries of the Battle of Prairie GroveBattle of Prairie Grove
The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on 7 December 1862, that resulted in a tactical stalemate but essentially secured northwest Arkansas for the Union.-Strategic situation: Union:...
and the Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
. By 1871 there were 1,200 interments made in the cemetery, most of which were unidentified.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the cemetery was enlarged and five more sections were added.
In 1989, the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation (a group of locals, veterans, and other concerned benefactors) raised enough money to purchase an additional three acres (12,000 m²) of land, and donated it to the cemetery.
Fayetteville National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on July 28, 1999.
Notable monuments
- The Revolutionary War Soldier Memorial, erected in the early 1990s.
- The Purple Heart Memorial, erected in 2000 to honor Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
recipients.
Notable interments
- Private First Class Clarence B. CraftClarence B. CraftClarence B. Craft was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in Okinawa during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. - James C. Putnam, one of the founders of the Veterans of Foreign WarsVeterans of Foreign WarsThe Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
. - Vance RandolphVance RandolphVance Randolph was a famous folklorist who studied the folklore of the Ozarks in particular. He wrote a number of books on topics including the Ozarks, Little Blue Books, and juvenile fiction....
, noted Ozarks folklorist and author.
See also
- United States Department of Veterans AffairsUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsThe United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
- United States National CemeteryUnited States National Cemetery"United States National Cemetery" is a designation for 146 nationally important cemeteries in the United States. A National Cemetery is generally a military cemetery containing the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses but not exclusively so...