Fort Smith National Cemetery

Very nice and clean

Beautiful place ! Well maintained

Everybody that visits the area, must walk or drive through this garden of stones. Very humbling, veterans buried and there wives after, sometimes before. Not next one another but at least in spirit, sharing hallowed ground.nnA true reason to reflect on what these people sacrificed for our country.nnFrom the ones that fought during the Civil war, too the ones that fought overseas . Also the ones that fought the wars on the home front in the factories and homes.

This stop can be quite dull if you just drive around and look at the tombstones. I recommend entering the visitors center prior to 4:30pm before they close and pick up the walking tour of the Fort Smith National Cemetery pamphlet. It's a very well written guide for 33 significant tombstones in the cemetery. It leads you to particular individuals grave sites and describes the historical significance of that individual. Some notables would be judge Isaac Parker, Brigadier General William O Darby, major William Bradford the founder of Fort Smith, Thomas Russell the first person laid to rest who was the surgeon of the original Fort Smith. The area of the Confederate soldiers, and the area of the black regiment soldiers. They're also beautiful War memorials to visit while you're here as well.

I have had the honor of participating in this cemetery’s “Wreaths Across America” event for the last two years. The community comes together to place a wreath at every tombstone during the Christmas season. It has been an honor and this cemetery truly honors the veterans and family members who are buried here.