Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and Miramar National Cemetery are both federal cemeteries run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not private cemeteries. Burial there is free for eligible veterans and, in many cases, their spouses and dependents. Cemlist does not list, sell, or facilitate anything at either location, and never will - this page exists to explain how eligibility actually works and to point you to the real, official process, not to sell you anything.
Before beginning, browse the rest of the Cemlist resources for buying, selling, and transfer guidance.
Fort Rosecrans and Miramar are not interchangeable right now
This distinction matters if you're planning ahead, since the two cemeteries are not in the same position today:
- Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (Point Loma) closed to new first interments in 1966 and stopped accepting new cremated-remains interments in 2014. It generally now only accepts additional eligible family members being interred in an existing family gravesite - not new, unrelated veterans.
- Miramar National Cemetery, established in 2010 as Fort Rosecrans's successor for San Diego County, is the active national cemetery here. It's currently accepting new casket and cremation interments for eligible veterans and family members.
If you don't already have a family connection to an existing gravesite at Fort Rosecrans, Miramar is the cemetery to ask the National Cemetery Administration about.
Who qualifies
In general terms - always confirm your specific situation with the VA, since discharge history and family circumstances vary:
- A veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable generally qualifies. Some discharge types require an individual eligibility review.
- A veteran's spouse or surviving spouse is generally eligible, and may be buried even if they predecease the veteran.
- Minor dependent children, and in some cases unmarried adult children with a qualifying disability, may also be eligible.
This is a summary, not an eligibility determination. Read the VA's own burial eligibility page for the complete, current criteria, and contact the VA directly for anything specific to your situation.
What it costs, and how to apply
Burial in a VA national cemetery is free for the eligible veteran - the gravesite, opening and closing, a government headstone or marker, and a burial flag are all provided at no cost. Some costs may apply to an eligible dependent depending on current VA policy, so confirm directly with the National Cemetery Administration rather than assuming.
To find out in advance whether you or a family member qualifies, veterans can file VA Form 40-10007 (Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery) through the VA's pre-need eligibility page. Doing this ahead of time, rather than at time of need, gives your family a clear answer without added stress later.
If a VA national cemetery isn't the right fit for your family
Not everyone is eligible, and not everyone wants a VA national cemetery even if they qualify - a specific denomination, a family plot elsewhere, or simply a preference for a particular cemetery are all common reasons to look privately instead. For that side of San Diego's market, see buying a cemetery plot in San Diego, which covers how private-party resale works at cemeteries like Greenwood Memorial Park, El Camino Memorial Park, and Glen Abbey Memorial Park.