Willamette National Cemetery
| Willamette National Cemetery | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| For Veterans of the Armed Forces | |
| Established | 1949 |
| Unveiled | 1951 |
| Location | 45°27′53″N 122°32′52″W / 45.46472°N 122.54783°WCoordinates: 45°27′53″N 122°32′52″W / 45.46472°N 122.54783°W near Portland, Oregon |
| Total burials | 126,561 |
| Burials by nation | |
| United States | |
Willamette National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the city of Portland, Oregon. The cemetery encompasses 269.4 acres (109.0 ha) straddling the county line between Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. Up to the end of 2005, there had been 126,561 interments.
Contents |
[edit] History
Plans to create a military cemetery in the Portland area started as early as 1941, and Franklin D. Roosevelt 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 acres (41 ha) 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 acres (40 ha) of land were donated to the cemetery.
Willamette National Cemetery is a Blue Star Memorial Highway site.
[edit] Notable monuments
- A Korean War Memorial, dedicated to the 283 people from Oregon who fought and died in that war.
[edit] Notable interments
See: Category:Burials at Willamette National Cemetery
- Lieutenant Colonel Stanley T. Adams, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Korean War.
- Alexander G. Barry, (1892-1952) United States Senator.
- Carson Bigbee, (1895-1964) Major League Baseball player.
- First Lieutenant Arnold L. Bjorklund, Medal of Honor recipient for action in World War II.
- Specialist Larry G. Dahl, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War.
- Mark Hatfield, (1922-2011) U.S. Senator and Governor from Oregon.
- Sergeant First Class Loren R. Kaufman, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Korean War.
- Scott Leavitt, (1879-1966) U.S. Representative from Montana.
- Thomas E. Martin, (1893-1971) U.S. Representative and Senator from Iowa.
