Los Angeles National Cemetery, Federal military cemetery in West Los Angeles, United States
Los Angeles National Cemetery is a military burial ground in West Los Angeles covering 46 hectares (114 acres) near Westwood. White marble headstones stand in straight rows across the grounds, which also include a Spanish Colonial style administration building and a modern columbarium.
The burial ground was established in 1889 as a cemetery for residents of the National Home of Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The first veteran laid to rest here was Abner Prather, a soldier from the American Civil War.
Visitors of all ages gather for annual memorial events, especially on Memorial Day, when thousands of people from the region come together. The Spanish Colonial architecture of the administration building reflects California building traditions from the early twentieth century and continues to shape the appearance of the grounds today.
The columbarium built in 2019 provides space for urns of veterans and eligible family members. Visitors walking through the grounds find wide pathways between the rows of graves, suitable for foot or wheelchair access.
Fourteen recipients of the Medal of Honor rest at this cemetery, along with more than one hundred Buffalo Soldiers. These African American soldiers fought in the Civil War and later conflicts and were often posted at remote outposts in the West.
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