21 burials per day - Riverside National Cemetery
Nov 11 '02
The Bottom Line The busiest National Cemetery in the U.S. is located in Riverside, California. Almost one burial per hour per day.
Every year, at least twice, I do something to pay tribute to my father and remind myself that the freedom and opportunity that I enjoy as an American was secured not only through the service and dedication of millions of freedom-loving -- and, yes, peace-loving -- Americans before me, but also by the sacrifices made by many hundreds of thousands who spilled their blood, suffered, and died to protect this great country and its citizens: I visit the Riverside National Cemetery.
It is here that my father was buried, just 10 years ago. My father was a Vietnam veteran -- a combat medic who served with distinction, earning an Air Medal (awarded for "heroism or merit for operational activities against an armed enemy"), the Combat Medical Badge (awarded to those medics who served under direct fire), and a Bronze Star for placing his life at risk in retrieving wounded soldiers while under fire. He retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years of service at the rank of E-9 (Sergeant Major). He went on to serve in a reserve capacity with the California State Military Reserve, eventually being promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. He died early in life, at the age of 56, and suffered a variety of ills due to his service to the country -- hearing loss, as well as some recurring dermatological and respiratory problems caused by exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) used during Vietnam -- but he never complained about the army or his life as a soldier. Indeed, it seems that he had green army blood in him up until the day he died. I came close to becoming a soldier myself... that is, if you count my one year of training as a JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp) cadet in high school and the Congressional nomination I received for appointment to the West Point Military Academy (one of six nominated in my congressional district; two nominees were eventually admitted by the Academy). My younger brother seems to have some of the old man's blood in him: he is a Major in the Army Reserves, currently being briefed for who-knows-what assignment, possibly Iraq. He's been to all the bad schools: Special Forces, Paratrooper, Green Beret, and some that I am probably not even aware of. He served in Bosnia a few years ago and expects to see some future duty in the Middle East.
Riverside National Cemetery
22495 Van Buren Blvd.
Riverside, CA 92518
This is a special place. Maybe not so grand or as often visited as some of the other National Cemeteries around the country. However, because of its physical size and the constant activity that takes place here, there are few places in America as humbling as this cemetery during a national holiday like Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Veterans' Day. The emotional power of this ground is amplified when hundreds -- thousands -- of family members are drawn to congregate all at once to honor those who have served and fallen in defense of this county.
Riverside National Cemetery is a living memorial. It is one of this nation's largest cemeteries, currently comprised of 740 acres of property with a planned addition of 182 acres that will be ceded to it by the Air Force. (The cemetery is located near March Airforce Base, along Highway 215.) This cemetery is one of of 120 cemeteries that the he Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration manages throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Some cemeteries are closed to new interments due to a lack of space, but new interments will be ongoing at Riverside National Cemetery for many years to come.
A few statistics, according to the mostly recently available data (Fiscal Year 2001, ended 9/30/2001) from the National Cemetery Administration:
Riverside National Cemetery Gravesite Status
Committed Gravesites: 113,336
Available Gravesites: 2,095 (more being developed; continual process)
Projected Depletion Date: 2021
FY 2001 Interments: 7,692 (21 burials per day).
- The largest National Cemetery (physical size) is Calverton National Cemetery, in New York (1,045 acres).
- The busiest National Cemetery is Riverside National Cemetery (Calverton is #2, with 7469 interments during fiscal 2001).
- The cemetery with the most occupied gravesites is located in Long Island, New York (241,369 gravesites). The next five cemeteries with the more than 100,000 occupied gravesites:
Calverton, NY (142,671)
Fort Snelling, MN (128,818)
Jefferson Barracks, MO (114,781)
Riverside, CA (113,336)
Golden Gate, CA (111,730)
Something to think about: In the 225 year period from the American Revolutionary War through 2001, 42 million Americans have provided war-time service in the military. Approximately 1.19 million Americans died in battle.
For more information about the National Cemetery Administration and for burial eligibility information, please visit:
http://www.cem.va.gov/
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The usmarinecorps / Nov. 10 Write Off
November 10 is the birthday of the US Marine Corps. In honor of this occasion, the following recruits have signed up to celebrate the event by posting a review that is related in some way to the Marine Corps, the military, military history, or perhaps even something that would be meaningful:
aliventiasylum
andymcf
badkittyM
conradd
DrDevience
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jo.com
kidnykid
klueger
kurt_messick (co-host/organizer)
lilscamp
lorendiac
lyagushka
mrkstvns
mshawpyle
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tombarnes
usmarinecorps (co-host/honoree)
wadesam
xiphoid
4-1-1
In particular, this write-off was inspired by the recent appearance of Epinions member usmarinecorps, who joined Epinions and is celebrating his two-month anniversary November 10, and is currently in the Persian Gulf area; it also celebrates the son of Epinions member conradd, Shane, who is currently in training in San Diego and graduates from boot camp in December.
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Epinions.com ID:
4-1-1
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Member: Tom Carr
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 1090
Trusted by: 689 members
About Me:
Go U.S.C.!!!
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