Springfield National Cemetery is a

United States National Cemetery The United States National Cemetery System is a system of 164 military cemeteries in the United States and its territories. The authority to create military burial places came during the American Civil War, in an act passed by the U.S. ...

located in the city of Springfield, in

Greene County, Missouri Greene County is located in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 298,915. making it the fourth most-populous county in Missouri and the most populous outside the Kansas City or Saint Loui ...

. Administered by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing lifelong healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...

, it encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 14,685 interments.

History

Established in 1867 as a place to initially inter

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

Union soldiers, many of whom died at the

Battle of Wilson's Creek The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri. In August, Confe ...

. In 1871 a section for

Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fi ...

was added. It has since been expanded and opened to all veterans, and now has the interred remains of soldiers from wars dating back to the Revolutionary War. The cemetery lends its name to National Avenue in Springfield, which formerly passed by the cemetery prior to the southern expansion of the city decades ago. (includes 30 photographs from 1998)

Notable monuments

* A marble pillar dedicated to Union General

Nathaniel Lyon Nathaniel Lyon (July 14, 1818 – August 10, 1861) was a United States Army officer who was the first Union Army, Union General officer, general to be killed in the American Civil War. He is noted for his actions in Missouri in 1861, at the beginn ...

in 1888. * A bronze sculpture dedicated to Confederate General

Sterling Price Sterling Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was an American politician and military officer who was a senior General officers in the Confederate States Army, officer of the Confederate States Army, fighting in both the Weste ...

in 1901. * The

Memorial. * A monument dedicated to Pearl Harbor survivors, erected in 1992. * The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution Memorial, dedicated to the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

soldiers who died in the Revolutionary War.

Notable interments

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipients ** Sergeant Harrison Collins (1836–1890), for action in the Civil War ** Corporal Orion P. Howe (1848–1890), for action in the Civil War ** Pharmacist's Mate Chief Petty Officer Fred H. McGuire (1890–1958), for action in the

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War, known alternatively as the Philippine Insurrection, Filipino–American War, or Tagalog Insurgency, emerged following the conclusion of the Spanish–American War in December 1898 when the United States annexed th ...

** Captain Patrick Pentzer (1838–1901), for action in the Civil War ** Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Jack Williams (1924–1945), for action in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

* Others **

Horton Smith Horton Smith (May 22, 1908 – October 15, 1963) was an American professional golfer, best known as the winner of the first and third Masters Tournaments. Tournament career Born in Springfield, Missouri, Smith turned professional in 1926 and ...

(1908–1963), World War II US Army Air Corps captain and professional golfer ** Major General Ralph E. Truman (1880–1962), career Army officer **

Richard Hanson Weightman Richard Hanson Weightman (December 28, 1816 – August 10, 1861) was an antebellum delegate to the United States Congress from the Territory of New Mexico, serving one term from 1851 to 1853. He was also a district commander of the secession ...

(1816–1861), Delegate to the US Congress from New Mexico Territory and Civil War Confederate officer ** Various Buffalo Soldiers

References

External links

National Cemetery Administration

Springfield National Cemetery
* * * {{National Register of Historic Places in Missouri Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri Historic American Landscapes Survey in Missouri United States national cemeteries Buildings and structures in Springfield, Missouri Protected areas of Greene County, Missouri Tourist attractions in Springfield, Missouri National Register of Historic Places in Greene County, Missouri 1867 establishments in Missouri