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WNY National Cemetery

Western New York National Cemetery is a 269-acre Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) national cemetery located in Genesee County, New York. The cemetery serves the needs of more than 98,000 Veterans, spouses and eligible children within a 75-mile radius of nearby Batavia, NY.

General Information

Contact numbers for military honors for the New York area:

• United States Army including Army National Guard, US Army Reserves and Merchant Marine: 888-325-1601
• United States Air Force including Air National Guard and US Air Force Reserves: 609-562-6141
• United States Navy: 800-856-7091
• United States Marine Corps: 866-826-3628
• United States Coast Guard: 216-402-6936

Please click to download the:

National Cemetery PreNeed Application.

Eligibility

Burial in a national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.



A Veteran's spouse, widow or widower, minor dependent children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the Veteran.

Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty or who die while on training duty, or were eligible for retired pay, may also be eligible for burial.

» Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery

Schedule a Burial

Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a phone call to 1-800-535-1117.

For information on scheduled burials in our national cemeteries, please go to the Daily Burial Schedule.

Floral/Grounds Policy

Cemetery policies are conspicuously posted and readily visible to the public. Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing. Water will be available at outside faucets from May 15 to October 1.

Artificial flowers will be permitted on graves from October 15 through April 15 and may be removed when their presence interferes with grounds maintenance. Artificial floral arrangements may be placed on gravesites five days before and after Memorial Day. Wreaths and grave blankets are allowable during December and January. Grave blankets must be no larger than 2 feet by 3 feet.

Weapons Policy

VA regulations 38 CFR 1.218 prohibit the carrying of firearms (either openly or concealed), explosives or other dangerous or deadly weapons while on VA property, except for official purposes, such as military funeral honors.

Possession of firearms on any property under the charge and control of VA is prohibited. Offenders may be subject to a fine, removal from the premises, or arrest.

Historical Information

In May 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration purchased 132-acres in Corfu, New York, for $625,000. The property has access off Exit 48A from the I-90 thruway and is located in Genesee County. In February 2018, VA announced the acquisition of two additional parcels of land adjacent to the originally purchased 132-acres for the Western New York National Cemetery in Corfu, New York. The additional parcels, 60-acres and 77-acres are to ensure the safety and efficiency of funeral processions and traffic.

The new national cemetery will serve the burial needs of more than 96,000 Veterans for the next 70 years and will be the seventh VA national cemetery in the state of New York.