NCA acquires land near Chattanooga for new National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration has acquired more than 266 acres of land in Birchwood, TN, for the future replacement of the Chattanooga National Cemetery. VA acquired the property from Vital-Blythe Ferry Holdings, a Tennessee limited liability company, for just over $11.5M. The new land is located along the east side of the Chickamauga Lake on Highway 60, 35 miles northeast of Chattanooga, and it will support over 167,000 Veterans living in the Chattanooga area with an additional VA burial option.

“This new land acquisition will allow VA to continue providing burial services to Veterans and their eligible family members in East Tennessee for decades to come,” said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn. “We are extremely grateful to our partners in Congress, as well as state and local authorities, for making this land acquisition possible.” 

Chattanooga National Cemetery was established in 1867 and has served the Veteran community for more than 150 years. Nearly 64,500 Veterans and eligible family members are interred there. The existing cemetery will continue to serve Veterans and their families until it reaches capacity for new burials, which is projected to occur in the next 15 years.

NCA honors Veterans and their families with final resting places in national shrines and lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our Nation. VA operates 155 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 44 states and Puerto Rico, and provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate the service of Veterans buried in both VA national and privately operated cemeteries.

Since 1973, NCA has ensured that Veterans, service members and their families are honored with a final resting place that pays tribute to their service. Over the last 50 years, NCA has developed and expanded burial and memorial options so that more Veterans and their families can utilize their earned memorial benefits.

Information on VA burial benefits is available from VA national cemetery offices, online at https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/ or by calling toll-free at 800-827-1000. To make burial arrangements at any open VA national cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.