By Thomas Zei
Most people know Stones River National Cemetery only as the final resting place of about 6100 Union soldiers from the Civil War. Such a focus emphasizes the differences between the Union and Confederate viewpoints and some visitors turn their full attention only to the Confederate Circle at Evergreen Cemetery. But by just concentrating on the Union soldiers, an important part of the national cemetery is overlooked. And this part deserves the attention of all of us.
Section P through Section T have no connection to the Civil War. These five sections, containing almost one thousand caskets, are devoted to individuals that supported their nation during wars and battles on foreign soil. Some gave the ultimate sacrifice while on active duty. These veterans deserve respect for their service.
Walking through these sections, you immediately notice the big difference between the simple markers of the Civil War and the ones here. These larger headstones are not the limestone of the earlier era. The marble and granite markers are much brighter than the limestone. They are also etched with more information compared to just the name and state of the Civil War memorials. These newer stones have the full name, rank and unit of the soldier. Some contain important medals earned during their career. Most markers have the name of the conflict from the Spanish-American War to Vietnam. The headstones also contain the dates of birth and death.
Almost all of the graves are veterans that lived a long life. Records show that many of these died at the local Veterans Administration Hospital and veteran’s home. Many are from The Greatest Generation of World War II veterans and from those that served during World War I. How many carried privately their war stories to their graves, we don’t know. Hopefully their families knew the sacrifices and horrors their fathers experienced and the reasons for the box of medals found in the house.
Research has found over sixty of the burials were for those killed while on active duty. Their stories can be found at https://www.friendsofstonesriver.org/bringing-heroes-home.html
Sections P and Q contain the majority of the veterans. Most of these veterans were from all the foreign wars from the post-Civil War period through early in the Vietnam conflict. The article at https://www.friendsofstonesriver.org/sections-p-and-q.html discusses the unfortunate discrimination that occurred in the burials in these two sections. Once Section P was completed in 1964, all veterans, no matter their race, were buried in the remaining graves in Section Q.
Sections R, S and T are very different than the other two sections. These sections are wedged against the east wall of the cemetery grounds. Section R only contains veterans who died during 1971. Section S was devoted to the burials in 1972 and Section T has the 1973 burials. At this point, the cemetery was considered closed.
Section S is very unusual due to a large empty separation between the top and the bottom of the section. Section R has a smaller gap in the graves. It is likely that the ground contained a solid rock making it impossible to create the burial plots.
These five sections also contain the remains of spouses that reserved the right to be buried in the national cemetery. Normally, these burials were in the same plot with the spouse’s name etched on the back of the headstone. The rocky ground certainly made it a challenge to create the space for two caskets. In some cases, the spouse was buried in a separate grave. Spouse burials have occurred on a regular basis although becoming rarer and rarer. A burial during 2024 was for a spouse that was over 100 years old who had reserved a space with her husband that died in the early 1960’s. Since the last veteran was buried in 1973, it is likely this may be one of the last spousal burials.
The sections also have graves devoted to children of soldiers on active duty. Although just a few, these children may be in separate graves or with their parent. In at least one case, the children were buried before the cemetery closed in 1973 and the veteran was buried in the same grave when he died over forty years later.
We celebrate and salute all of our veterans for protecting our freedoms. Please remember to recognize and show your appreciation to the veterans of foreign wars buried at Stones River National Cemetery.
Most people know Stones River National Cemetery only as the final resting place of about 6100 Union soldiers from the Civil War. Such a focus emphasizes the differences between the Union and Confederate viewpoints and some visitors turn their full attention only to the Confederate Circle at Evergreen Cemetery. But by just concentrating on the Union soldiers, an important part of the national cemetery is overlooked. And this part deserves the attention of all of us.
Section P through Section T have no connection to the Civil War. These five sections, containing almost one thousand caskets, are devoted to individuals that supported their nation during wars and battles on foreign soil. Some gave the ultimate sacrifice while on active duty. These veterans deserve respect for their service.
Walking through these sections, you immediately notice the big difference between the simple markers of the Civil War and the ones here. These larger headstones are not the limestone of the earlier era. The marble and granite markers are much brighter than the limestone. They are also etched with more information compared to just the name and state of the Civil War memorials. These newer stones have the full name, rank and unit of the soldier. Some contain important medals earned during their career. Most markers have the name of the conflict from the Spanish-American War to Vietnam. The headstones also contain the dates of birth and death.
Almost all of the graves are veterans that lived a long life. Records show that many of these died at the local Veterans Administration Hospital and veteran’s home. Many are from The Greatest Generation of World War II veterans and from those that served during World War I. How many carried privately their war stories to their graves, we don’t know. Hopefully their families knew the sacrifices and horrors their fathers experienced and the reasons for the box of medals found in the house.
Research has found over sixty of the burials were for those killed while on active duty. Their stories can be found at https://www.friendsofstonesriver.org/bringing-heroes-home.html
Sections P and Q contain the majority of the veterans. Most of these veterans were from all the foreign wars from the post-Civil War period through early in the Vietnam conflict. The article at https://www.friendsofstonesriver.org/sections-p-and-q.html discusses the unfortunate discrimination that occurred in the burials in these two sections. Once Section P was completed in 1964, all veterans, no matter their race, were buried in the remaining graves in Section Q.
Sections R, S and T are very different than the other two sections. These sections are wedged against the east wall of the cemetery grounds. Section R only contains veterans who died during 1971. Section S was devoted to the burials in 1972 and Section T has the 1973 burials. At this point, the cemetery was considered closed.
Section S is very unusual due to a large empty separation between the top and the bottom of the section. Section R has a smaller gap in the graves. It is likely that the ground contained a solid rock making it impossible to create the burial plots.
These five sections also contain the remains of spouses that reserved the right to be buried in the national cemetery. Normally, these burials were in the same plot with the spouse’s name etched on the back of the headstone. The rocky ground certainly made it a challenge to create the space for two caskets. In some cases, the spouse was buried in a separate grave. Spouse burials have occurred on a regular basis although becoming rarer and rarer. A burial during 2024 was for a spouse that was over 100 years old who had reserved a space with her husband that died in the early 1960’s. Since the last veteran was buried in 1973, it is likely this may be one of the last spousal burials.
The sections also have graves devoted to children of soldiers on active duty. Although just a few, these children may be in separate graves or with their parent. In at least one case, the children were buried before the cemetery closed in 1973 and the veteran was buried in the same grave when he died over forty years later.
We celebrate and salute all of our veterans for protecting our freedoms. Please remember to recognize and show your appreciation to the veterans of foreign wars buried at Stones River National Cemetery.