Visiting the Cemetery and Columbarium
All visitors to the Cemetery and Columbarium must adhere to US Naval Academy access regulations.
Since the US Naval Academy considers the Cemetery and Columbarium ceremonial spaces, visitors are asked to respect the dignity of the grounds. Smoking, eating, drinking, littering, dog walking, jogging, and recreational walking are prohibited in and through the Cemetery, and along the Columbarium.
If you wish to locate a particular individual, a locator kiosk is available in the oratory at the Columbarium. This map of the Cemetery indicates section numbers to help you navigate the grounds. The columbarium section numbers are displayed at the top of each section.
The Naval Academy Cemetery has begun to be placed in the Department of Veteran Affairs Veteran Legacy Memorial. Over the next several years burial locations will be populated and available at https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/
FLOWER AND MEMORIAL ITEM POLICY:
Temporary placement (less than 14 days) of decorations, such as wreaths or flowers, on graves or the sidewalks in front of the niches is allowed. Decorations on graves should be placed close to the monument to avoid interfering with lawn care. Glass or ceramic items of any type are forbidden. Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Artificial flowers may be placed on graves only during the period of October 10 through April 15. During the lawn mowing and ground maintenance season (April – November), all floral items will be removed from graves on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. Holiday wreaths or grave blankets are permitted on graves during the winter Holiday season and will be removed no later than January 20th of each year. Contact the Memorial Affairs Office for the exact date of the post-holiday cleanup. Grave blankets may not be larger in size than two by three feet. Floral items and other types of decorations will not be secured to or placed on headstones or markers. Gravesite items cannot be taller than the surrounding headstones and markers. As determined by the Memorial Affairs Director, all decorations of any kind will be removed when they become faded and unsightly. None will be allowed to remain more than 14 days. None will be returned to the owners.
It is not permissible to hang anything on the front of individual columbarium niche covers, with the exception of one USNA approved flag/flower holder. These may be purchased through the Memorial Affairs Director. Forbidden items affixed to a niche cover include, but are not limited to flowers, pictures, flags, coins, stickers, adhesive of any kind, etc. All items will be removed and not returned to owners. Any damage caused to a niche cover will be the responsibility of the deceased's next of kin.
It is not permissible to place anything in the space between niche covers. This includes but is not limited to flowers, flags, coins, etc. Any damage caused to a niche cover or columbarium infrastructure will be the responsibility of the deceased's next of kin.
