Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA

Notes:
The Willamette National Cemetery was the first national cemetery in the northwest United States, followed by the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Honolulu, HI) and Puerto Rico National Cemetery (Bayamon, PR). Though authorized by Congress in 1941, the cemetery’s development was delayed by the onset of World War II.

After the war, the establishment of new national cemeteries was necessary to accommodate the growing veteran population. With burials beginning in 1951, Willamette National Cemetery contained 151,043 interments as of June 2012.

The Willamette National Cemetery utilizes only flat granite markers, rather than upright marble markers. This modern aesthetic, influenced by the lawn and memorial park movements, takes advantage of the site’s natural scenic qualities, allowing native trees and uninterrupted views to define the cemetery.