Mexico City National Cemetery
Mexico City, Mexico
Contributed by Martha P. Martin [chapis@inreach.com].
Click for
burial records.
The Mexico City National Cemetery was founded in 1851, four years
after the United States-Mexican War. The remains of 750 US soldiers
were recovered from their shallow battlefield graves in and around
Mexico City and were buried in one common plot since their original
wooden markers were no longer legible. Although the cemetery was
primarily established to give these fallen heroes a quiet and serene
enshrinement befitting their deeds and sacrifices, space was set
aside for US citizens who would in the future succumb here in Mexico
City. This particular terrain was selected because it was next door
to the British Cemetery, established in 1824, where a few of our
men were temporarily interred.
There is a total of 1,563 persons interred here. Besides the soldiers,
there were 813 civilians buried here before this cemetery was closed
for further burials in 1924. As is the rule in our government cemeteries,
all grave plots and markers were of uniform size. This is a most
striking example of our democratic philosophy of equality. It is
also for this reason that the cemetery kept little data on the worldly
importance of those who are interred here. Most are veterans and
their families, who saw service in the Mexican War, Civil War (including
five Confederates), Indian campaigns and the Spanish-American War.
Here also are members of our Diplomatic Service who perished in
service here.
In 1976 the Circuito Interior, presently as the west side of the
cemetery, was constructed and the cemetery grounds were reduced
to its present size of about 1 acre. The Government of Mexico disinterred
the remains that were in the grounds at that time, constructed the
crypts at the east and west walls, and re-interred the remains in
the crypts. At the same time, the remains of the 750 Unknown War
Dead were moved and re-interred in two newly-built vaults in the
center of the south end of the greensward under the monument.
If you would like to visit the cemetery, it is open Mondays through
Friday 8:30 to 5:30. The cemetery is located at Virginia Fabregas
#31, Colonia San Rafael, approximately 2 kilometers from the Embassy.
The monument reads:
"To the Honored Memory of 750 americans known but to
God whose bones collected by their country's order are here buried."
In the LOC column, the E and the W indicate the East or West wall
of niches in the cemetery. The first numeral indicates the section
of each wall; the first section beginning near the main entrance
to the cemetery. The second numeral indicates the row within the
section; the first row being at the bottom of the section. The third
numeral indicates the column within the row; the first column being
the nearest to the main cemetery entrance.
SIGNIFICANT DATES
26 June 1851 - 2 acres of ground purchased for $3,000.00.
Cemetery operated and maintained by the US State Department.
3 March 1873 - By Act of Congress, cemetery declared a
US National Cemetery and was operated and maintained by the US
War Department.
17 July 1947 - President Harry S Truman, by Executive
Order No. 9873, transferred responsibility from the US War Department
to The American Battle Monuments Commission. ABMC Mexico.
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