Riverside National Cemetery

10/01/2026

09/29/2026

Today we bid farewell to Executive Director Keith Allen as he departs Riverside National Cemetery for his new role as the VA’s Deputy Undersecretary of Cemetery Operations. Since joining us in September 2022, Keith has made a lasting impact through his leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to honoring our nation’s Veterans and their families. His guidance has strengthened our mission, uplifted our team, and enriched the service we provide every day.
While we will greatly miss his presence here at Riverside, we are incredibly proud to see him take on this well‑deserved opportunity. Keith’s vision and passion will undoubtedly continue to make a difference at the national level, just as they have here.
Please join us in congratulating Keith Allen on his advancement and thanking him for everything he has brought to Riverside National Cemetery. His legacy here will not be forgotten, and we wish him continued success in his new role.

09/29/2026

On Saturday, September 12, 2026, VA National Cemeteries across the ...

09/24/2026

Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee, Jim & Shelly Gore, proudly accepted the Golden Boot Award on behalf of Riverside National Cemetery. This honor was presented by Laura Herzog of Honor Our Fallen during a beautiful evening at the Golden Boot Awards in Anaheim.
We are deeply grateful for this recognition and for the incredible work Honor Our Fallen continues to do in supporting the mission of bringing home and honoring our nation’s heroes. Thank you, Laura, for this meaningful award — it is a privilege to serve alongside those dedicated to honoring our fallen and supporting their families.
Come see the Golden Boot Award on display in the lobby oof our Administration Building.

09/17/2026

Yesterday’s Saluting Branches event at Riverside National Cemetery was a huge success. Volunteers from Pino Tree Service, Ace Tree Enterprises, Rancho Tree Service, Liberty Tree Care, and Lion Tree Service came together to honor our heroes by trimming 50 trees across the grounds. Thank you to everyone who donated their time and skill to support this meaningful cause!

09/14/2026

Please spread the word about Veteran burial benefits! Please help us share information about burial benefits available to eligible Veterans: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials. Veterans discharged from active duty service with other than dishonorable discharges are eligible for burial benefits including no-cost interments, gravesites, headstones or niche covers and perpetual gravesite care.

Non-Veteran spouses who pre-decease their eligible Veteran spouse or are still legally married to the Veteran at the time of the Veteran’s death are also eligible, as well as minor or disabled adult dependent children. Pre-need eligibility determinations can be initiated by calling 1-800-535-1117 (option 4). Please share this information with Veterans who may not be aware of these benefits. If you’d like more information, or are aware of any outreach opportunities that would enable us to reach Veterans who can use this information, please call 631-727-5410.
📷 Photo Credit: Joanna L. Steidle

09/14/2026

On September 12, 2026, we proudly commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a successful Carry the Load: National Day of Service.
More than 300 volunteers came together in a powerful act of service and remembrance. Their dedication helped clean and care for the Medal of Honor Memorial, the Amphitheater, the American Indian Veterans Memorial, the Gold Star Monument, the Delta Columbarium, the Golf Columbarium, and Bronze grave site markers in Sections 16, 14, and 14A.
These photos capture just a glimpse of the incredible work and unity shown throughout the day. Each volunteer played a meaningful part in honoring those who served, those we lost, and the families who continue to carry their legacy forward.

https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/
A reminder for families and friends: the Veteran Legacy Memorial (VLM) offers a dedicated page for every veteran interred in a national cemetery. You can visit your veteran’s VLM page to leave tributes, memories, and messages that help keep their stories alive.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. Your service truly makes a difference.

Sam Brown

09/11/2026

Today, we pause in solemn remembrance of September 11, 2001.
At Riverside National Cemetery, we honor the nearly 3,000 lives taken, the courage of first responders, and the countless families forever changed.
We also remember the service members who answered the nation’s call in the years that followed—those who deployed, those who sacrificed, and those who never returned home. Their legacy lives on in these sacred grounds and in the hearts of all who visit.
We invite our community to reflect, remember, and share:
Where were you on 9/11, and what does this day mean to you?
Your stories help us keep the memory of that day alive and honor those we vowed never to forget.
“We remember. We honor. We stand united.”

07/17/2026

Today at Riverside National Cemetery, we honored the long‑awaited repatriation of PFC Reuben E. Habecker, a World War II POW whose remains were identified after 80 years. Captured in 1942 and lost aboard the Enoura Maru in 1945, he is finally home.
Surrounded by his family, the Patriot Guard Riders, and grateful Americans, we paid tribute to his courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy. Welcome home, PFC Habecker. Your service will never be forgotten.

https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/REUBENEHABECKER/ac82f3

05/25/2026

Sharing a collection of videos from today’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery. These moments capture the solemn tributes, heartfelt reflections, and the deep sense of gratitude felt throughout the day as we honored our fallen heroes.
May these clips serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who gave everything for our nation—and the families, friends, and communities who continue to honor their legacy.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs