Massachusetts National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Massachusetts National Cemetery is a U.S. National Cemetery located in Bourne, Massachusetts
, in Barnstable County on Cape Cod
, approximately 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Boston, Massachusetts and adjacent to the Otis Air National Guard Base
. As of fiscal year 2008, 46,380 have been interred there.
passed the National Cemetery Act which transferred 82 of the United States Army’s
national cemeteries to the Veteran's Administration (VA). The following year, the VA’s National Cemetery System adopted the regional cemetery concept plan in which one large national cemetery would be built within each of the 10 standard federal regions, as established by the General Services Administration
. A policy was established that new cemeteries would only be created on land already owned by the federal government.
During the mid-1970s, when the National Cemetery System was looking to expand, it determined that the largest veteran population in the northeast was centered in the Boston area. A search soon commenced to find a suitable site for a national cemetery, nearby. The difficult task of locating land which would be available to the government at no cost eventually led to the identification of a 749-acre (3.0 km²) tract on the 22,000-acre (89 km²) Otis Air Force Base as the most likely site. The base occupied land that was leased to the Department of Defense
(DOD). A portion of this lease was terminated and the title for 749.29 acres (303.2 ha) was transferred to the VA’s National Cemetery System in 1976. The Otis tract became the first parcel of land acquired by the National Cemetery System for the specific purpose of building a new national cemetery since 1949.
The Massachusetts National Cemetery was dedicated on October 11, 1980 and became the third new national cemetery to open in nearly 30 years. Calverton N.C.
in New York
, and Riverside N.C.
in California
, were the first and second, respectively. The site was officially named the Veterans Administration National Cemetery of Bourne, Mass., but over time the lengthy appellation changed in practice, if not in fact, to simply, "Massachusetts National Cemetery".
have been erected in memory of veterans from World War I
to the modern era.
, while attached to the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines
. Originally buried in Korea
, DeWert was re-interred at the Woodlawn National Cemetery
, Elmira, N.Y.
, on October 15, 1951. Subsequently, his family wished to have him interred in his native state. DeWert was disinterred from the Woodlawn Cemetery on October 13, 1987, and re-interred in the Massachusetts National Cemetery on October 14, 1987 (Section 5 Grave 167).
SFC Jared C. Monti
, United States Army
(1975-2006). Killed on June 21, 2006 during Operation Enduring Freedom.
in the 1980s. He was identified as a member of the "Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry" by the buttons from his uniform.
Bourne, Massachusetts
Bourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,721 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Bourne, please see the articles on Bourne , Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore...
, in Barnstable County on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, approximately 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Boston, Massachusetts and adjacent to the Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base is an Air National Guard installation located within the Massachusetts Military Reservation , a military training facility, located on the western portion of Cape Cod, in western Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States...
. As of fiscal year 2008, 46,380 have been interred there.
History
On June 18, 1973, CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed the National Cemetery Act which transferred 82 of the United States Army’s
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
national cemeteries to the Veteran's Administration (VA). The following year, the VA’s National Cemetery System adopted the regional cemetery concept plan in which one large national cemetery would be built within each of the 10 standard federal regions, as established by the General Services Administration
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
. A policy was established that new cemeteries would only be created on land already owned by the federal government.
During the mid-1970s, when the National Cemetery System was looking to expand, it determined that the largest veteran population in the northeast was centered in the Boston area. A search soon commenced to find a suitable site for a national cemetery, nearby. The difficult task of locating land which would be available to the government at no cost eventually led to the identification of a 749-acre (3.0 km²) tract on the 22,000-acre (89 km²) Otis Air Force Base as the most likely site. The base occupied land that was leased to the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DOD). A portion of this lease was terminated and the title for 749.29 acres (303.2 ha) was transferred to the VA’s National Cemetery System in 1976. The Otis tract became the first parcel of land acquired by the National Cemetery System for the specific purpose of building a new national cemetery since 1949.
The Massachusetts National Cemetery was dedicated on October 11, 1980 and became the third new national cemetery to open in nearly 30 years. Calverton N.C.
Calverton National Cemetery
Calverton National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in eastern Long Island, the hamlet of Wading River, the Town of Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Riverside N.C.
Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers , making it the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, were the first and second, respectively. The site was officially named the Veterans Administration National Cemetery of Bourne, Mass., but over time the lengthy appellation changed in practice, if not in fact, to simply, "Massachusetts National Cemetery".
Monuments and memorials
Massachusetts National Cemetery has a memorial trail where, , 47 memorials and a carillonCarillon
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...
have been erected in memory of veterans from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to the modern era.
Medal of Honor recipients
Hospital Corpsman Richard David DeWert, USNR (1931–1951). Killed on April 5, 1951 during the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, while attached to the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines
2nd Battalion 7th Marines
The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines is a light infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and consist of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors...
. Originally buried in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, DeWert was re-interred at the Woodlawn National Cemetery
Woodlawn National Cemetery
Woodlawn National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Elmira, in Chemung County, New York. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 8,693 interred remains.- History :...
, Elmira, N.Y.
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, on October 15, 1951. Subsequently, his family wished to have him interred in his native state. DeWert was disinterred from the Woodlawn Cemetery on October 13, 1987, and re-interred in the Massachusetts National Cemetery on October 14, 1987 (Section 5 Grave 167).
SFC Jared C. Monti
Jared C. Monti
Jared Christopher Monti was a soldier in the United States Army who received the United States military's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Afghanistan....
, United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(1975-2006). Killed on June 21, 2006 during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Others
Unknown United States Soldier. Interred on August 4, 1990, in Section 5 Grave 107. The remains were unearthed during highway excavation in South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in the 1980s. He was identified as a member of the "Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry" by the buttons from his uniform.