Soldiers' National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Adams County, PA

Soldiers' National Cemetery

Gettysburg,

Adams County, Pennsylvania

Page last updated November 5, 2009

Within one week of the Battle of Gettysburg, the dead were buried in shallow graves across the battlefield. The graves

were seen as a temporary solution for the disposal of the dead, and were completed as quickly as possible for fear that an

epidemic might spread in the hot summer conditions. Typically, a wooden board with the soldier's name, written in pencil

was placed at the top of his grave. Many of the identifications were lost due to weather and other elements. Soldiers'

National Cemetery was created to give the men who fought for our country a proper and permanent burial.

The dedication ceremony for Soldiers' National Cemetery took place four and one half months after the battle,

and it is when Abraham Lincoln, our nations 16th President, gave the now famous Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln Speech Memorial is unique in that it is one of the few memorials in the world that is dedicated to honor a speech and not a human being

Letter Lincoln received inviting him to speak at Gettysburg

Bronze bust of Lincoln that reveals the heavy toll the nation's suffering and the war had upon him


The Cemetery contains the remains of American soldiers and dependents from the Civil War through Vietnam. Officially closed in 1972, family plots remain for dependents of veterans already interred.

Soldiers' National Monument has long been identified as the spot from which Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. The President actually delivered his speech in Evergreen Cemetery, which lies a short distance away.

Evergreen Cemetery was established in 1854, and is a public cemetery. Evergreen Cemetery and Soldiers' National Cemetery are separated by a black iron fence.

Above photos contributed by Kathy L. Francis

View text transcription of this cemetery

Tombstone Images

Barshinger	John C.	Contributed by: Kay Arnold
Cramer	Floyd D.	Contributed by: Kathy Francis
Lentz	Albert J.	Contributed by: Kathy Francis
Martinchak	Andrew	Contributed by: Kathy Francis
Oyler	James A.	Contributed by: Kay Arnold
Oyler	Martha	Contributed by: Kay Arnold

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