DAYTON, Ohio — Along its winding roads and row after row of white marble, Dayton National Cemetery becomes a sea of red, white and blue, honoring each of the nearly 60,000 men and women buried on its grounds.
What You Need To Know
- Dayton National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 59,000 U.S. military service members
- Veterans from all major U.S. conflicts are buried in the cemetery
- The cemetery hosts a remembrance ceremony on Memorial Day
The cemetery is one of five national cemeteries in Ohio, managed by Veteran’s Affairs, and within its 116.3 acres, Doug Ledbetter, its director, said every day is Memorial Day.
“We do call our national cemeteries a national shrine because that’s exactly what they are,” he said.
A veteran himself, Ledbetter said the work feels almost sacred.
“It’s basically an extension of our service, getting the opportunity and the honor to be able to take care of our comrades,” he said.
Dayton National Cemetery buried its first soldier in 1867, and in the more than 150 years since, it serves as the final resting place for more than 59,000 veterans and their families.
“We have four Medal of Honor recipients up on this hill,” Ledbetter said, pointing to the historic section. “Five total in the cemetery.”
The cemetery is also one of only eight in the United States, with the distinction of burying someone from every major war and conflict the U.S. has fought in, including the Revolutionary War.
To ensure the decades of history remain preserved, Ledbetter said his staff cleans and cares for the stones at least once per year
“They will weather over time, but I think our maintenance program has really contributed to the condition of them,” he said.
On Memorial Day, the cemetery hosts a remembrance service every year at its historic Civil War monument.
Each year, after the prayers and music, Ledbetter said he makes a speech, reminding everyone in attendance what it means to be on what he considers hallowed ground.
“It really shows the cost of freedom,” he said.