Index of Soldiers in National Cemeteries

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1911

Index of Soldiers in National Cemeteries

AFTER five years’ work by expert tabulators, the War Department’s card index to the bodies of soldiers buried in national cemeteries is nearing completion. The work was begun under direction of Quartermaster-General Aleshire, in 1905. There are at the present time 78 military cemeteries in the United States, with 360,753 soldiers buried in them. Of this number, 207,075 are known, and 153,678 are unknown. The graves of the unknown are marked with a marble monument six inches square and extending eight inches above the ground, and those of the known are marked by a flat headstone bearing the name of the soldier, his age, and other details. These stones cost the government five dollars each. Last year the total amount expended for this purpose was in excess of $75,000. In 1902 it was only $25,000, the amount having increased slightly each year since.