Houston National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Houston National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
in the city of Houston
in Harris County, Texas
. It encompasses 419.2 acres (1.7 km²) only about half of which is developed. The cemetery had 67,793 interments as of the end of 2008.
Cemetery, it became Houston National Cemetery in 1973 after the passage of the National Cemetery Act. It was the only government cemetery constructed in the United States during the 1960s was the largest of its kind at the time of construction. At 419.2 acres (1.7 km²), the cemetery was slightly smaller than the 450 acres (1.8 km²) of Arlington National Cemetery
.
The Hemicycle, a large semi-circular monument which surrounds a chapel and a 75' high bell tower, with a large courtyard for open air ceremonies. The Hemicycle is the largest memorial and the most visible structure at the cemetery. The memorial is the only NCA
-managed hemicycle memorial and is one of three hemicycles located in national cemeteries. The others are located at Arlington National Cemetery
and Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Located in the center of the hemicycle are the chapel, carillon
and speaker’s stand. David Parsons, a professor of art at Rice University
, sculpted a 20’ x 6’ bas relief of three forms, a fallen soldier
supported by two comrades. The 75 feet (22.9 m) tower, 305-bell, Schulmerich carillon was dedicated May 30, 1970.
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...
in the city of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in Harris County, Texas
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. It encompasses 419.2 acres (1.7 km²) only about half of which is developed. The cemetery had 67,793 interments as of the end of 2008.
History
First established on December 7, 1965 as a Veterans AdministrationUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs
The 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...
Cemetery, it became Houston National Cemetery in 1973 after the passage of the National Cemetery Act. It was the only government cemetery constructed in the United States during the 1960s was the largest of its kind at the time of construction. At 419.2 acres (1.7 km²), the cemetery was slightly smaller than the 450 acres (1.8 km²) of Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Notable monuments
NCA
NCA is a three-letter acronym, which may refer to the:* Constitutional Assembly of Zimbabwe* National Campaign for the Arts, a lobbying group for the arts in the United Kingdom...
-managed hemicycle memorial and is one of three hemicycles located in national cemeteries. The others are located at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
and Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Located in the center of the hemicycle are the chapel, carillon
Carillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
and speaker’s stand. David Parsons, a professor of art at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, sculpted a 20’ x 6’ bas relief of three forms, a fallen soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
supported by two comrades. The 75 feet (22.9 m) tower, 305-bell, Schulmerich carillon was dedicated May 30, 1970.
Notable interments
- Dan BankheadDan BankheadDaniel Robert Bankhead , was the first black pitcher in Major League Baseball. After a strong career in the Negro League playing for the Memphis Red Sox, he was signed at age 24 by Branch Rickey to play in the Brooklyn Dodgers' farm system...
, the first African American pitcher in major league baseball - Brooks Benedict, actor in HouseboatHouseboat (film)Houseboat is a 1958 romantic comedy film starring Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer, Paul Petersen, Charles Herbert and Mimi Gibson. The movie was directed by Melville Shavelson, who also directed the original 1968 version of Yours, Mine and Ours....
, and The FreshmanThe Freshman (1925 film)The Freshman is a 1925 comedy film that tells the story of a college freshman trying to become popular by joining the school football team. It stars Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Brooks Benedict and James Anderson. It remains one of Lloyd's most successful and enduring films.The movie was written... - Willard BrownWillard BrownWillard Jessie Brown , nicknamed "Home Run" Brown, was an American outfielder in the Negro Leagues, Major League Baseball, and inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.- Negro league :...
, Baseball Hall of Famer - Captain James H. FieldsJames H. FieldsJames H. Fields was a United States Army officer 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 HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient for action in 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... - Staff Sergeant Marcario GarciaMarcario GarciaStaff Sergeant Marcario Garcia or Macario Garcia born in Villa de Castaño, Mexico, was the first Mexican immigrant to receive the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in World War II - First Lieutenant Raymond L. KnightRaymond L. KnightRaymond Larry Knight was a United States Army Air Forces officer 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 World War II - First Sergeant David McNerney, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
- Amos MilburnAmos MilburnAmos Milburn was an African American rhythm and blues singer and pianist, popular during the 1940s and 1950s...
, musician - Albert Richard ThomasAlbert Richard ThomasThis article is about the US Congressman. For the article on the French Socialist and First Director of the International Labour Organisation see Albert Thomas ....
, US Congressman - Josè H. Rojo, Houston attorney and civil rights activist
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...