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Ribbon cutting ceremony opens new section of West Point Cemetery

By Eric Bartelt West Point Public Affairs SpecialistMay 1, 2024

The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves. (Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO)) VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO))
VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO))
VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves. (Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO)) VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves. (Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO)) VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO))
VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO))
VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently...
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project. The West Point Cemetery, which is our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves. (Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/USMA PAO)) VIEW ORIGINAL

WEST POINT, N.Y. – It was a project where its completion was 10 years in the making, but through exceptional work and numerous adjustments throughout, the reclamation project added 30 years’ worth of new capacity to the West Point Cemetery.

The U.S. Military Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 to celebrate the completion of the West Point Cemetery Reclamation Project.

The West Point Cemetery, which is located on our nation’s oldest military post cemetery since 1817, has added space over the last decade with a columbarium wall completed in 2014 that more than doubled the cemetery’s capacity to hold and honor in memorial the remains of U.S. Military Academy alumni.

However, the completion of the reclamation project exponentially grows the size of the cemetery allowing the cemetery to serve as a final resting place for future generations.

The ceremony included remarks from West Point’s Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, Commander Col. Alexander Young and Executive Director of the Office of Army Cemeteries Karen Durham-Aguilera. The ribbon-cutting ceremony also included West Point Command Sgt. Maj. Phil Barretto and West Point Cemetery Director Jenifer McSwain.

U.S. Corps of Cadets Chaplain, Matthew Pawlikowski, began the ceremony with the invocation where he spoke about Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, a Medal of Honor recipient during the Civil War, the composer of Taps and is buried at the cemetery.

“Butterfield’s beautiful bugle call was originally written as a call to rest and quicky became the call that unites our nation,” Pawlikowski said. “It’s for remembering and honoring all who served our country, even unto the last full measure of devotion, which is played nearly every day in this cemetery.”

He blessed the new section of the cemetery and reminded everyone in attendance that West Point is “a place of special significance for our country … and we are grateful that we can do this today.”

Gilland came to the podium and referenced the importance of the cemetery to the West Point and USMA community as a sacred place to honor those who served our nation.

“For the families of those who rest here, it’s a place of solace, where they can come to remember their loved ones,” Gilland said. “For us, and for others, it’s a place of reflection, a place to draw strength and inspiration from so many exemplars of selfless service, men and women who dedicated themselves to the ideals of Duty, Honor, Country.”

Gilland noted how the reclamation area provided much-needed capacity to continue to honor, “our brothers and sisters of the Long Gray Line for decades to come.”

“The project was truly a team of teams, and I would like to thank all of those who brought it to fruition,” Gilland stated.

He mentioned the Office of Army Cemeteries, the Army Corps of Engineers, West Point Garrison and the Directorate of Public Works, real property specialists, environmental specialists and others in the workforce who made the project happen.

“We appreciate all of your efforts and hard work to complete this project and get us to this important milestone,” Gilland concluded.

Young then took the podium as the overseer of the project in the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers and began his speech by remarking that, “today marks a profound milestone in the history of the West Point Cemetery.”

“As we stand together on these sacred grounds, we not only honor our storied past, but also embrace the future unfolding before us,” Young explained to the attendees. “This cemetery preserved the legacies of individuals who have profoundly influenced our nation’s history. From brave Soldiers and Medal of Honor recipients to trailblazing astronauts and celebrated athletes, their stories resonate through time, inspiring us with their valor and resilience.”

The cemetery currently covers more than 11 acres and sheltering 9,396 persons with a deep-rooted history tracing sacrifices as far back as the Revolutionary War. The new chapter and land space now allows an expanded cemetery capacity of an additional 3,492 graves.

“This ensures the cemetery continues to be a beacon of honor and respect,” Young stated.

He talked about how the road to today was, “fraught with challenges and not an easy site to build on.”

“We had to overcome some of the toughest engineering challenges from across West Point and our entire portfolio,” Young explained. “The property adjacent to the cemetery has an extreme slope, so using micropiles to stabilize the slope, it enabled us to build this project (right here), and during the one-in-a-thousand-year storm last summer, that slope held there.”

The vision overall was to enhance accessibility and visitor experience. The new section of the cemetery received new gates, improved pedestrian pathways, facilities for individuals with disabilities, perimeter security, modern restrooms and clear signage to create an inviting and respectful atmosphere.

In his closing remarks, Young wanted to remind everyone of the importance of this moment of the cemetery’s history.

“As we cut the ribbon here today, let us reflect on this moment’s significance,” Young said. “Honor the memories of those who rest here and renew our commitment to preserving their legacy for future generations. May the West Point Cemetery continue to stand as a testament to the encourage and sacrifice of those who have served our nation inspiring us all.”

The ceremony finished as it began with the West Point Brass Quintet playing music and Sgt. Maj. MaryKay Messenger singing and bringing everyone together for this reflective occasion.