Willamette National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Willamette National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
located about 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of the city of Portland, Oregon
. The cemetery encompasses 269.4 acres (1.1 km²) straddling the county line between Multnomah
and Clackamas
Counties. Up to the end of 2005, there had been 126,561 interments.
signed a bill to establish a national cemetery, but the necessary money to acquire the land was never allocated. Finally, in 1949 the state of Oregon
donated 102 acre (0.41277972 km²) of land for the establishment of a National Cemetery. Construction was completed in 1950, and Willamette National Cemetery was officially opened on December 14 that year. The first interment did not take place until 1951. In 1952, another 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land were donated to the cemetery.
Willamette National Cemetery is a Blue Star Memorial Highway
site.
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 about 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of the city of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The cemetery encompasses 269.4 acres (1.1 km²) straddling the county line between Multnomah
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
and Clackamas
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
Counties. Up to the end of 2005, there had been 126,561 interments.
History
Plans to create a military cemetery in the Portland area started as early as 1941, and Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
signed a bill to establish a national cemetery, but the necessary money to acquire the land was never allocated. Finally, in 1949 the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
donated 102 acre (0.41277972 km²) of land for the establishment of a National Cemetery. Construction was completed in 1950, and Willamette National Cemetery was officially opened on December 14 that year. The first interment did not take place until 1951. In 1952, another 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land were donated to the cemetery.
Willamette National Cemetery is a Blue Star Memorial Highway
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Blue Star Memorial Highways are highways in the United States that are marked to pay tribute to the U.S. armed forces. The National Council of State Garden Clubs, now known as National Garden Clubs, Inc., started the program in 1945 after World War II. The blue star was used on service flags to...
site.
Notable monuments
- A 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...
Memorial, dedicated to the 283 people from Oregon who fought and died in that war.
Notable interments
See: :Category:Burials at Willamette National Cemetery- Lieutenant Colonel Stanley T. AdamsStanley T. Adams-External links:* from Life , featuring Adams...
, 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 the Korean War. - Alexander G. BarryAlexander G. BarryAlexander Grant Barry was an American attorney and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Astoria, he was a World War I veteran and briefly a United States Senator from late 1938 to early 1939...
, (1892-1952) United States Senator. - Carson BigbeeCarson BigbeeCarson Lee "Skeeter" Bigbee was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was born in Lebanon, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon....
, (1895-1964) Major League Baseball player. - First Lieutenant Arnold L. BjorklundArnold L. BjorklundArnold L. Bjorklund 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 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...
. - SpecialistSpecialist (rank)Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers...
Larry G. DahlLarry G. DahlLarry Gilbert Dahl 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 the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
, 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...
. - Sergeant First Class Loren R. KaufmanLoren R. KaufmanLoren R. Kaufman was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 4, and September 5, 1950...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Korean War. - Scott LeavittScott LeavittScott Leavitt was a U.S. Representative from Montana. He served as chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.-Early life:...
, (1879-1966) U.S. Representative from Montana. - Thomas E. MartinThomas E. MartinThomas Ellsworth Martin was a United States Representative and Senator from Iowa. Martin, a Republican, served in Congress for 22 consecutive years, from January 1939 to January 1961....
, (1893-1971) U.S. Representative and Senator from IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
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...