Barrancas National Cemetery, National military cemetery at Naval Air Station Pensacola, United States.
Barrancas National Cemetery is a military burial ground located within Naval Air Station Pensacola, containing more than 50,000 grave sites. The graves are arranged in neat rows across approximately 94.9 acres of the naval installation.
Burials on the site date from the construction of Fort Barrancas; in 1838 it became a U.S. Navy cemetery. During the Civil War, Pensacola was contested as the best port for access to the Gulf of Mexico, and soldiers from both sides were interred after falling in combat or dying in nearby hospitals. In 1868 it was officially made a national cemetery, and makeshift burial grounds nearby were disinterred and relocated here. Further land was transferred from NAS Pensacola in 1944, 1950, 1986 and 1990.
The yellow fever monument was erected in 1884 by the Marine Guard of the Pensacola Navy Yard, honoring soldiers who died of the disease; the sources give no outbreak year. The cemetery also holds Ga-Ah, one of Geronimo's wives, who died of Bright's disease while held captive.
Visitors must present valid identification at the Naval Air Station security checkpoint to gain entry. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, and comfortable walking shoes are recommended for navigating the rows of graves.
Ten British aviators who died during World War II training at the air station are buried among thousands of American service members. These foreign military personnel serve as a reminder of international cooperation during the conflict.
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