Cemeteries in the U.S. full list here range from national, military, private, city, religious and green cemeteries, each with varying degrees of purpose and motivations. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (for information click here) maintains 134 national cemeteries in 40 states (and Puerto Rico) as well as 33 soldier’s lots and monument sites. Many states have state veteran cemeteries, but are run completely by the states. Private, city, religious and green cemeteries are interspersed in all states.

Cemeteries may offer ground burial, an “above-ground grave” (resembling a sarcophagus), a public mausoleum, private mausoleum, columbarium, niche or other edifice, while others only offer ground burial in a lawn crypt. Some cemeteries include crematoria on the grounds.

A green cemetery, (click here for information) which is emerging as an alternative to a traditional cemetery, has an area set aside for natural burials (with or without coffins). Natural burials are motivated by a desire to be environmentally conscious. The body will rapidly decompose and become part of the natural environment without incurring an environmental cost of traditional burials.

To learn more:

www.findagrave.com

www.abmc.gov

www.naturalburial.org