General Information
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Established in 1965 as a Veteran Cemetery, the cemetery 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 1960's and was the largest of its kind at the time - only dwarfed in size by Arlington National Cemetery after years of expansion.
Notable Monuments
Houston National Cemetery contains a large semi-circular monument (Hemicycle) which surrounds a chapel and a 75' high carillon bell tower, and includes a large courtyard for open air ceremonies.
Notable Interments
- Dan Bankhead, the first African American pitcher in major league baseball
- Kermit Beahan, bombardier of the Bockscar, which dropped the second atomic bomb in Japan
- Willard Brown, Baseball Hall of Fame
- Goree Carter, rock and roll pioneer and Korean War veteran
- Margie Duty, first African American woman on the Houston police force
- Hal Epps, Major League Baseball player
- Captain James H. Fields, Medal of Honor for action in World War II
- Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia, Medal of Honor for action in World War II
- First Lieutenant Raymond L. Knight, Medal of Honor for action in World War II
- Dr. John F. McNeely, 18 year old combat medic on Utah Beach became prominent Houston Doctor.
- First Sergeant David McNerney, Medal of Honor for action in the Vietnam War
- Amos Milburn, musician
- J. L. Parks, basketball player
- Albert Richard Thomas, US Representative
More Information
- See the [:Category:Houston National Cemetery, Houston, Texas|Houston National Cemetery category]] for profiles of those who have been documented at this cemetery.
- Houston National Cemetery: National Cemetery Administration website
- Houston National Cemetery on Wikipedia
- Houston National Cemetery on Find A Grave
