National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. It encompasses, and as of the end of 2005, had 43,672 interments. It is one of two national cemeteries in Arizona (the other being Prescott.HistoryA state law passed in 1976, by then-Governor Raul Hector Castro, authorized the establishment of a large veteran's cemetery. The location in Phoenix was chosen and the cemetery was dedicated on December 9, 1978. The first interment took place the following spring. It was officially transferred to the control of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and became a National Cemetery in 1989. In 1999, over 13 million dollars was spent on improving the facilities and developing the area with the intent of serving the burial needs of veterans until the year 2030.Notable monuments Eternal Flame monument World War II Submarine Torpedo monument) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Notable interments Thomas Bonner, president of Union College and Wayne State University, author Nathan E. Cook, the last surviving veteran of the Spanish–American War, died at the age of 106 Doyle "Porky" Lade, major league baseball player, for the Chicago Cubs Evan Mecham, former governor of Arizona Henry Polic II, Vietnam War U.S. Army veteran and actor Eldon Rudd, former member of the United States House of Representatives from Arizona