WEST VIRGINIA

The West Virginia National Cemetery is a national veterans’ burial ground located near Grafton in Taylor County, West Virginia. Established in 1987, it spans roughly 89 acres and was created to serve the region after the nearby Grafton National Cemetery reached capacity. Managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, it remains an active cemetery, providing burial space for eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependents, along with full military honors and well-maintained grounds that reflect the dignity of military service.

The cemetery represents a broad cross-section of American military history. Veterans from conflicts such as World War II, Korea, and Vietnam are interred there, along with others whose service spans different eras. It is also home to memorials connected to the land’s earlier use as the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys, adding a deeper historical layer to the site.

Among those buried there are both nationally recognized figures and more recent service members. Frank Gatski, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and World War II Army veteran who played for the Cleveland Browns, is one of the most well-known individuals interred at the cemetery. In contrast, Sarah Beckstrom represents a newer generation of service members. A 20-year-old Army National Guard specialist and military police officer, she was shot in an ambush in Washington, D.C., in November 2025 and died from her injuries the following day. She was laid to rest at the cemetery on December 10, 2025, with full military honors, her burial attended by family, fellow soldiers, and officials.

Together, these individuals reflect the cemetery’s broader purpose. The West Virginia National Cemetery is not defined by a single era or a handful of famous names, but by its role as a continuing place of honor for those who served. From decorated veterans and public figures to young service members whose lives ended too soon, it stands as a lasting tribute to sacrifice across generations.