Willamette National Cemetery

Willamette National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the city of Portland, Oregon. Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it encompasses 269.4 acres (109.0 ha) straddling the county line between Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. As of 2014, there had been 164,000 interments. It is one of three national cemeteries in Oregon (the other two being Roseburg and Eagle Point).

Willamette National Cemetery
United States
Flag at Graves amphitheatre, 2016
For Veterans of the Armed Forces
Established1949
Unveiled1951
Location45°27′43″N 122°32′32″W
near 
Portland, Oregon
Total burials160,000+

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.

Notable monuments
  • A Korean War Memorial, dedicated to the 283 people from Oregon who fought and died in that war.

Notable interments
Korean War Memorial, 2013

References
  1. Obituary: Donald George Malarkey
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