Miramar National Cemetery is a
federal
Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to:
Politics
General
*Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies
*Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...
military cemetery
A war grave is a burial place for members of the armed forces or civilians who died during military campaigns or operations.
Definition
The term "war grave" does not only apply to graves: ships sunk during wartime are often considered to b ...
in the city of
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. It is located in the north west corner of the
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) , formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Miramar and Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar, is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the av ...
on the grounds of old
Camp Kearney (1917) and
Camp Elliott (1942).
Miramar National Cemetery is considered an auxiliary of the
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is a federal military cemetery in the city of San Diego, California. It is located on the grounds of the former Army coastal artillery station Fort Rosecrans and is administered by the United States Department o ...
and is administered by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers a ...
. The cemetery is located about north of
Downtown San Diego
Downtown San Diego is the city center of San Diego, California, the eighth largest city in the United States. In 2010, the Centre City area had a population of more than 28,000. Downtown San Diego serves as the cultural and financial center and ...
on Nobel Drive between Miramar Road and Interstate 805.
History
On 30 January 2010, the
Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...
dedicated a new
National Cemetery
The following is a partial list of prominent National Cemeteries:
Africa
Algeria
* El Alia Cemetery, Algiers
Burundi
* Mausolée des Martyrs de la Démocratie, Bujumbura
Ghana
* Asomdwee Park, Accra
* Burma Camp Military Cemetery, Accra
L ...
at the northwest corner of MCAS Miramar. The cemetery is an extension of
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is a federal military cemetery in the city of San Diego, California. It is located on the grounds of the former Army coastal artillery station Fort Rosecrans and is administered by the United States Department o ...
and when complete will accommodate the remains of approximately 235,000 veterans and spouses. Nearby Fort Rosecrans Cemetery closed to most casket burials in 1966, and prior to Miramar's opening, the only option for casket burials of San Diego region veterans was
Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers , making it the largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration ...
.
The cemetery design is sensitive to environmental considerations, preserving habitat for endangered
California gnatcatcher
The California gnatcatcher (''Polioptila californica'') is a small long insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth. This species was recently split from the similar black-tailed gnatcatcher of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan ...
s and
fairy shrimp
Anostraca is one of the four orders of crustaceans in the class Branchiopoda; its members are referred to as fairy shrimp. They live in vernal pools and hypersaline lakes across the world, and they have even been found in deserts, ice-covered mou ...
.
The first interment occurred in November 2010;
the first casket burial occurred in April 2011.
The cemetery contains 313 acres dedicated for full casket burials and cremated remains. It has 16 designated areas (not all currently being used) for full casket burials and two
Columbarium
A columbarium (; pl. columbaria) is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage of funerary urns, holding cremated remains of the deceased.
The term can also mean the nesting boxes of pigeons. The term comes from the Latin "'' colu ...
areas for urn interments. It also has two, "Committal Service Shelters" or open sided covered shelters. North of the central "Avenue of Flags" is a "Memorial Walk" with dedications and benches for reflections. A planned
Ossuary
An ossuary is a chest, box, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce. A body is first buried in a temporary grave, then after some years the ...
is located at the end of the "Memorial Walk" and designated as the "Memorial Plaza." The Administration Office has an interior service room and a unique funeral possession lane behind it. Near the entrance is a "P.O.W. Plaza" where the bronze memorial to prisoners of war called "Liberation" is located.
Notable burials
Medal of Honor recipients
*
Charles Schroeter
Charles Schroeter (July 4, 1837 – January 27, 1921) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Indian Wars, while serving with Company G, 8th Regiment of the United States Cavalry. A Ger ...
(1837–1921), recipient from the American Civil War
Other burials
*
Rudy Bukich
Rudolph Andrew Bukich (September 15, 1930 – February 29, 2016) was an American football player, a quarterback in the National Football League from 1953 to 1968. Known as "Rudy the Rifle" for his uncommon arm strength, he tied an NFL record with ...
(1930–2016), an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...
player in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
who played for fourteen seasons (1953 and 1956 to 1968). He served with the United States Army from 1954–1956.
*
Jerry Coleman
Gerald Francis Coleman (September 14, 1924 – January 5, 2014) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) second baseman for the New York Yankees and manager of the San Diego Padres for one year. Coleman was named the rookie of the year in 1949 by Ass ...
(1924–2014), a baseball broadcaster, a former manager of the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
, a World Series winning
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
second baseman for the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
and a Marine Corps pilot during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
.
[High Iron Illustrations, ]
*
Tim LaHaye
Timothy Francis LaHaye (April 27, 1926 – July 25, 2016) was an American Baptist evangelical Christian Minister of religion, minister who wrote more than 85 books, both fiction and non-fiction, including the ''Left Behind (series), Left Behind ...
(1926–2016), an
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
Protestant
minister who wrote and co-wrote more than 85 books, both fiction and non-fiction, including the ''
Left Behind
''Left Behind'' is a multimedia franchise that started with a series of 16 bestselling religious novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. It focuses on a seven-year conflict between the Tribulation Force, an underground network of converts, a ...
'' series. He enlisted in the
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
in 1944, and served in the
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA) was a Theater of Operations responsible for directing United States Army operations throughout the European theatre of World War II, from 1942 to 1945. It commanded Army Ground For ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
as a
machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic, rifled autoloading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automatic firearms such as automatic shotguns and automatic rifles (including assault rifles and battle rifles) a ...
ner aboard a bomber.
*
Don Marshall
Donald Robert Marshall (born March 23, 1932) is a Canadian former ice hockey forward.
Don played in the National Hockey League from 1951 to 1972. During this time, he played for the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs and Mon ...
(1934–2016), actor known for his role as Dan Erickson in the television show ''
Land of the Giants
''Land of the Giants'' is a one-hour American science fiction television series that aired on ABC for two seasons, beginning on September 22, 1968 and ending on March 22, 1970. The show was created and produced by Irwin Allen. ''Land of the Gia ...
''.
He enlisted and served in the US Army during the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
.
*
Charlie Paulk (1946–2014) professional basketball player
Eligibility
Burial in Miramar National Cemetery is available for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependents at no cost to the family and includes the gravesite, grave-liner, opening and closing of the grave, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care as part of a national shrine. For veterans, benefits may also include a burial flag (with case for active duty), and military funeral honors. Family members and other loved ones of deceased veterans may request Presidential Memorial Certificates.
Veterans discharged from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable and servicemembers who die while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, as well as spouses and dependent children of veterans and active duty servicemembers, may be eligible for VA burial and memorial benefits including burial in a national cemetery. The veteran does not have to die before a spouse or dependent child can be eligible.
Reservists and National Guard members, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are eligible if they were entitled to retired pay at the time of death, or would have been upon reaching requisite age.
Burial of dependent children is limited to unmarried children under 21 years of age, or under 23 years of age if a full-time student at an approved educational institution. Unmarried adult children who become physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before age 21, or age 23 if a full-time student, also are eligible for burial.
A Federal law passed in 2010 (Public Law 111-275) extends burial benefits to certain parents of servicemembers who die as a result of hostile activity or from combat training-related injuries who are buried in a national cemetery in a gravesite with available space. The biological or adopted parents of a servicemember who dies in combat or while performing training in preparation for a combat mission, leaving no surviving spouse or dependent child, may be buried with the deceased servicemember if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that there is available space. The law applies to servicemembers who died on or after Oct. 7, 2001 and to parents who died on or after Oct. 13, 2010.
Monuments and memorials
Miramar National Cemetery has several memorials and monuments.
* ''The Liberation'' – by sculptor Richard Becker. It was dedicated on Sept. 16, 2011. It "honors the sacrifice of veterans captured during America's foreign wars." The San Diego American Ex-Prisoners of War-Chapter 1 provided "the 15-foot-tall figurative composition of a bronze soldier and POW flag atop a concrete base."
[
]
Memorial Walk
* Jewish War Veterans
* US Navy Seabees
* US Navy Nurse Corps
* Blue Star Memorial by the California Garden Club, Palomar District
* Korean War Memorial – Chosin Reservoir by the San Diego Chapter of the Chosin Few
* US Army Special Forces Memorial
* US Paratroopers "Airborne" Memorial – added March 201
Avenue of Flags
The Avenue of Flags contains fifty (50) steel flag poles with lighting to display all the American flags
The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the ...
along the avenue twenty four (24) hours a day. The Avenue extends from near the cemetery entrance eastward toward a giant American flag and flagpole at the east end of the roadway at the Flag Assembly Area.
It was dedicated on Saturday 28 January 2012 with North San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn, Officers of the United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
, representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...
and numerous San Diego and Orange County veterans groups. It was hosted by the Fort Rosecrans an
Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with assistance from a US Marine Corps color guard and band from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.[
The Support Foundation takes care of flag replacement and repair. It was instrumental in the equipment, purchase and volunteer installation of the flagpoles with proper lighting. Volunteers provide about 1,000 hours of labor by digging trenches, assembling and landscaping. Noteworthy volunteers come from the ]Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth participants. The BSA was founded i ...
and Young Marines
The Young Marines is a youth program in the United States and Japan open to all youth between the ages of 8 to 18 or
high school graduation (whichever is later, not to exceed 20 years of
age). The Young Marines program is the lea ...
. They were joined by volunteers from the USS ''Ronald Reagan'' (CVN-76), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) , formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Miramar and Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar, is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the av ...
and many civilians.[
]
Gallery
File:MiramarNationalCemetery001.jpg, Liberation statue with POW flag
File:MiramarNationalCemetery002.jpg, Liberation plaque – base of memorial
File:MiramarNationalCemetery004.jpg, Columbarium Plaza – north wall showing Sections H & I
File:MiramarNationalCemetery005.jpg, Columbarium urn crypt with American Flag
File:MiramarNationalCemetery006.jpg, Avenue of Flags
File:MiramarNationalCemetery008.jpg, Jewish War Veterans plaque on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery009.jpg, US Navy Seabees Memorial on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery010.jpg, US Navy Nurse Corps plaque on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery011.jpg, US Navy Nurse Corps memorial image on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery012.jpg, Blue Star Memorial – California Garden Club Palomar District – on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery013.jpg, Korean War Memorial – Chosin Reservoir by the San Diego Chapter of the Chosin Few – on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery014.jpg, US Army Special Forces Memorial – on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery015.jpg, US Army Special Forces Memorial backside showing green Beret – on the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery018.jpg, Environmental sign – near the Memorial Walk
File:MiramarNationalCemetery019.jpg, Headstones in Area 8
File:MiramarNationalCemetery020.jpg, Headstones in Area 7
File:MiramarNationalCemetery022.jpg, Avenue of Flags near the Flag Assembly area
File:MiramarNationalCemetery023.jpg, Committal Service Shelter
First interments: November 22, 2010
File:USMC-101122-M-2306T-096.jpg, A joint-force color guard stands before the grave sites. These first five burials marked the official opening of the new facility.
File:USMC-101122-M-2306T-040.jpg, Ceremony attendees gather before the start of a burial while the iconic Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag waves over the grounds.
File:USMC-101122-M-2306T-073.jpg, A US Army honor guard stands at parade rest, waiting to execute a rifle salute. Dignitaries performed the first burials at the facility, marking its official opening.
File:USMC-101122-M-2306T-089.jpg, A joint-force color guard waits before the ceremony which marked the official opening.
File:USMC-101122-M-2306T-118.jpg, An Air Force honor guard prepares to present the American flag to the families of the veterans buried.
File:USMC-101122-M-2306T-284.jpg, An Air Force honor guard folds the American flag after presenting it to the families of the first veterans buried.
File:USMC-101122-M-2306T-323.jpg, A lone bugler finishes a rendition of "Taps". Dignitaries buried four veterans and one spouse, marking the official opening of the new facility.
File:MiramarNationalCemetery024.jpg, Miramar National Cemetery – 2010 Dedication plaque
References
External links
Miramar National Cemetery main web page.
*
* {{Find a Grave cemetery
United States national cemeteries
Tourist attractions in San Diego
Geography of San Diego
Cemeteries in San Diego County, California
Landmarks in San Diego
2010 establishments in California