San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
located at 32053 West McCabe Road, Santa Nella, California
, in Merced County, California
. This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains over 322 acres (1.3 km²) of land. The number of internments thru fiscal year 2008 is 30,054.
for the creation of a National Cemetery. The first phase developed 105 acre (0.4249203 km²) of the land, and was completed in May 1992, giving enough space for the interment of over 20,000 remains.
There is a small military museum on site, which has exhibits of uniforms, medals, and other memorabilia.
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 at 32053 West McCabe Road, Santa Nella, California
Santa Nella, California
Santa Nella is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, USA. It is located east-northeast of Pacheco Pass, at an elevation of 154 feet . At the 2010 census, Santa Nella had a population of 1,380 people and has one elementary school.The town is located by Interstate 5, at the...
, in Merced County, California
Merced County, California
Merced County , is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced...
. This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains over 322 acres (1.3 km²) of land. The number of internments thru fiscal year 2008 is 30,054.
History
In 1989, the Romero Ranch Company donated land to the Department of Veterans AffairsUnited 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...
for the creation of a National Cemetery. The first phase developed 105 acre (0.4249203 km²) of the land, and was completed in May 1992, giving enough space for the interment of over 20,000 remains.
There is a small military museum on site, which has exhibits of uniforms, medals, and other memorabilia.
Notable monuments
- The California Korean War Veterans Memorial, erected in 1998. It consists of 16 five-foot-tall (5 feet (1.5 m)) granite monoliths arranged in a circle. Engraved on each monolith is the name of the 2,495 veterans from California who died during the Korean WarKorean WarThe 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...
. - The 11th Airborne Memorial, a granite and bronze monument dedicated in 2002 in honor of all Airborne forcesAirborne forcesAirborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
.
Notable interments
- Seaman William Troy, 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 aboard the USS ColoradoUSS Colorado (1856)The first USS Colorado — a -class, three-masted steam screw frigate — was launched on 19 June 1856 by the Norfolk Navy Yard. It was sponsored by Ms. N. S. Dornin, and commissioned on 13 March 1858, Captain W. H...
while assaulting KoreaKoreaKorea ) 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...
n forts in 1871.
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...