Houston National Cemetery

First established on December 7, 1965, as a Veterans Administration Cemetery, it became Houston National Cemetery in 1973 after the passage of the National Cemetery Act. It was the only government cemetery constructed in the United States during the 1960s and was the largest of its kind at the time of construction. At {{convert|419.2|acre}}, the cemetery is smaller than the {{convert|624|acre}} of Arlington National Cemetery.{{Cite web

| title = Cemeteries – Houston National Cemetery

| accessdate = 2009-03-21

| url = http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/houston.asp#hi

}}

File:Houston National Cemetery Hemicycle.jpg

The Hemicycle, a large semi-circular monument which surrounds a chapel and a 75' high bell tower, with a large courtyard for open air ceremonies. The Hemicycle is the largest memorial and the most visible structure at the cemetery. The memorial is the only NCA-managed hemicycle memorial and is one of three hemicycles located in national cemeteries. The others are located at Arlington National Cemetery and Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.{{Cite web | title = Cemeteries – Houston National Cemetery – Burial & Memorials | accessdate = 2009-06-01 | url = http://www.cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/houston.asp}}

Located in the center of the hemicycle are the chapel, carillon and speaker's stand. David Parsons, a professor of art at Rice University, sculpted a {{convert|20|x|6|ft|abbr=on}} bas relief of three forms, a fallen soldier supported by two comrades. The {{convert|75|ft|m|adj=on}} tower, 305-bell, Schulmerich carillon was dedicated May 30, 1970.

File:Houston National Cemetery East.jpg

File:Houston National Cemetery Pond.jpg

• Medal of Honor recipients
• Captain James H. Fields, for action in World War II
• Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia, for action in World War II
• First Lieutenant Raymond L. Knight, for action in World War II
• First Sergeant David McNerney, for action in the Vietnam War
• Specialist Five Clarence Sasser, for action in the Vietnam War
• Others
• Dan Bankhead, the first African American pitcher in Major League Baseball
• Kermit Beahan, bombardier of the Bockscar, which dropped the second atomic bomb in Japan
• Brooks Benedict, actor
• Walt Bond, Major League Baseball player
• Willard Brown, Baseball Hall of Famer
• Goree Carter, rock and roll pioneer and Korean War veteran
• Margie Duty, first African American woman on the Houston police force
• Hal Epps, Major League Baseball player
• Lisa Gaye, actress
• Teala Loring, actress
• Amos Milburn, musician
• J. L. Parks, basketball player[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/john-parks-7791311 John Leonard Parks]
• Albert Thomas, US Representative

{{reflist}}

{{commons category-inline}}

• [http://www.cem.va.gov/ National Cemetery Administration]
• [http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/houston.asp Houston National Cemetery]
• {{HALS |survey=TX-5 |id=tx1089 |title=Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Harris County, TX |photos=29 |cap=3}}
• {{GNIS|type=retired|2664139}}
• {{Find a Grave cemetery}}

Category:Historic American Landscapes Survey in Texas

Category:Protected areas of Harris County, Texas

Category:United States national cemeteries

Category:Cemeteries in Harris County, Texas

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Harris County, Texas

Category:Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas

Category:1965 establishments in Texas