Sarasota National Cemetery

Sarasota National Cemetery is a U.S. national veterans cemetery located in Sarasota, FL, established in 2007. Veterans News covers VA cemetery news, burial benefits eligibility, and major events at this and other veteran-honoring sites nationwide.

The cemetery occupies 295 acres and has been the final resting place for an estimated 32,000 veterans, eligible spouses, and dependent children since its establishment. Like all VA cemeteries, Sarasota National Cemetery accepts burials at no cost to eligible veterans, including a gravesite, perpetual care, headstone or marker, military funeral honors, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

Who is eligible for burial at Sarasota National Cemetery? Most U.S. veterans who served on active duty with an other-than-dishonorable discharge are eligible, as are reservists and National Guard members who completed required training and met service-time thresholds. Spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans may also be buried in the same gravesite. The VA maintains the definitive eligibility criteria; Sarasota National Cemetery staff can confirm eligibility for specific cases.

How does burial at Sarasota National Cemetery work? Veterans (or families upon a veteran's death) typically work through a funeral home that contacts the VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117. Required documentation usually includes a DD-214 (military discharge) and death certificate. Burials are generally scheduled within 5 business days of request, depending on cemetery capacity and family preference.

Veterans News provides ongoing coverage of cemetery expansions, new VA construction grants for state veterans cemeteries, burial-benefit policy changes, and Memorial Day / Veterans Day events at sites like Sarasota National Cemetery. For story tips about a veteran honored here or about the cemetery itself, email editor@nexcom.media.

Data source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration. Cemetery details may change as facilities expand or undergo renovations. For the most current information about Sarasota National Cemetery including hours, ceremony schedules, and contact, visit the official site at www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/sarasota.asp.