UTAH
Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park
The Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park is Utah’s main state-run burial ground for military veterans, located in the open landscape of Bluffdale, just south of Salt Lake City. Established in 1990, it provides a dignified resting place for honorably discharged service members and eligible family members, while also serving as a space for remembrance.
The cemetery spans about 30 acres and is known for its orderly design and natural setting. Rows of uniform white headstones stretch across well-kept lawns, with wide, unobstructed views and a scenic backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains, creating a calm and reflective atmosphere.
Key areas include the committal shelter, where military honors are performed, memorial plazas used during observances like Memorial Day, and columbarium walls for cremated remains. Sections for unclaimed veterans highlight the cemetery’s role in ensuring all service members receive proper honors.
Rather than emphasizing famous individuals, the cemetery serves as a collective tribute to everyday veterans from conflicts spanning World War II to the present, and is especially recognized for ceremonies that provide unclaimed or previously overlooked veterans with full military honors, often in partnership with efforts like the Missing in America Project.
Larkin Sunset Gardens
Larkin Sunset Gardens is a privately owned cemetery and funeral facility located in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains in Sandy, Utah. The property spans about 76 acres and is designed as a landscaped memorial park rather than a traditional cemetery, with gardens, trees, fountains, and walking paths that create a quiet, park-like setting.
The cemetery offers a range of burial and memorial options, including in-ground graves, cremation gardens, and both indoor and outdoor mausoleum spaces. It is operated by Larkin Mortuary, a long-established family-run organization that provides full funeral services on-site, including chapel services, memorial planning, and pre-arrangement options.
While not a military cemetery, Larkin Sunset Gardens does serve many veterans. Military honors are available for veteran burials, and the cemetery participates in observances such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day, often placing flags on veterans’ graves as part of its annual traditions. Overall, it is known for combining full-service funeral care with a peaceful, well-maintained environment focused on reflection and remembrance.
