Fort Custer National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Fort Custer National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
located just outside of the Village of Augusta
in Kalamazoo County, Michigan
. It encompasses 770.4 acres (3.1 km²), and as of the end of 2005, had 20,656 interments.
, the original Camp Custer was built in 1917 as part of the military mobilization during World War I. After the war, it also served as a demobilization camp. The cemetery itself was not created until 1943. During World War II Fort Custer was expanded to serve as a training ground and as a place to hold German prisoners of war, 26 of which died while in captivity and were buried in the cemetery. Sixteen of the German POWs were killed in an accident when their truck collided with a train as they were returning to the fort from a work detail on a sugar beet farm near Blissfield, Michigan
. The other 10 died from natural causes. It is the only National Cemetery where members of another nation's armed forces are interred.
It was not until 1981 that Fort Custer cemetery officially became Fort Custer National Cemetery, receiving a large plot of land from the Fort Custer National Military Reservation for expansion. In 1997 another expansion was made, with the addition of 60 acres (242,811.6 m²).
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 just outside of the Village of Augusta
Augusta, Michigan
Augusta is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 899 at the 2000 census. The village is mostly within Ross Township, though a small portion extends south into Charleston Township....
in Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Kalamazoo County, Michigan
-Air Service:*The Kalamazoo & Battle Creek Metro Area is served by Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.-Interstates:* I-94* I-94 Business Loop-US highways:* US-131* BUS US 131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-43* M-89* M-96...
. It encompasses 770.4 acres (3.1 km²), and as of the end of 2005, had 20,656 interments.
History
Named for General George Armstrong CusterGeorge Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
, the original Camp Custer was built in 1917 as part of the military mobilization during World War I. After the war, it also served as a demobilization camp. The cemetery itself was not created until 1943. During World War II Fort Custer was expanded to serve as a training ground and as a place to hold German prisoners of war, 26 of which died while in captivity and were buried in the cemetery. Sixteen of the German POWs were killed in an accident when their truck collided with a train as they were returning to the fort from a work detail on a sugar beet farm near Blissfield, Michigan
Blissfield, Michigan
Blissfield is a village in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,223 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Blissfield Township...
. The other 10 died from natural causes. It is the only National Cemetery where members of another nation's armed forces are interred.
It was not until 1981 that Fort Custer cemetery officially became Fort Custer National Cemetery, receiving a large plot of land from the Fort Custer National Military Reservation for expansion. In 1997 another expansion was made, with the addition of 60 acres (242,811.6 m²).
Notable monuments
- The Avenue of Flags, a row of 152 flag poles along the main road of the cemetery, as well as an additional 50 flag poles, one for each state flag, in a semicircle at the road end.
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...