Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

My father Antonio Vargas is buried there he served in the Navy. It's a beautiful and well maintained cemetery. When visiting my Dad, it's peaceful, serene, and tranquil. I get to visit and pay my respects to all of the veterans and all of the fallen who served our country. I also get to learn some history from all the armed forces. They also have a great ceremony for Memorial Day to honor the veterans, and Wreaths of America also decorate for the veterans during Christmas time.

These soldiers could not ask for a better resting place than Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. It was my father's wishes to be buried there with his military family. I can now see why. We laid him to rest on July 16th. I can not talk enough about the staff at this facility. They all take such pride in their jobs here.

It was the 25th year celebration on Memorial Day every branch of service!! A beautiful ceremony and wonderful speakers, if you haven't gone yet, check it out!! All of our service men and women, very respectful, very sacred....so proud of what they do there!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is a place of deep respect and reverence. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with rows of headstones honoring our nation's veterans and service members, making it a truly humbling experience. The setting is peaceful and serene, offering a quiet space to reflect on the sacrifices made for our country. The cemetery staff are respectful and helpful, always ensuring the grounds are in pristine condition. The monuments and memorials scattered throughout add to the sense of history and honor. Highly recommend visiting to pay respects and experience this beautiful tribute to American heroes.

Attended a funeral this morning. I've visited the cemetery before, this was my first funeral. There was the 21 gun salute, military honors, flag honoring, and pastor's committal prayer. They all did a great job.

It was a long ride coming from Evanston, but it was worth it to bury my uncle Jimmy, a Navy veteran. The grounds are beautiful on a nice day and pristine as you would expect with anything that had to do with the military. The headstones were laid out in such a way so that regardless of the angle you can see them perfectly lined up. My hats off to the cemetery liaison and the honor guard for respectfully helping us bury my uncle as well as the veterans that volunteer to help out around the cemetery grounds.

The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was because there was definitely some confusion about where to go when we reached the cemetery, and the welcome station was not only closed, it was being remodeled or repaired. However, once the representative assigned to us arrived, we were in good hands; she guided us to the site for the ceremony, ensured that we were informed and took care of everything completely. The military ceremony to honor my 99-yr-old uncle was touching and brought tears to our eyes. The representatives from the cemetery, from the U.S. Army, and from the local National Guard maintained a reverential demeanor throughout, despite our small group. The workers who sealed the ashes in the columbarium were also professional and expressed their condolences to the family. We were impressed that they also took GPS readings in order to add the location to a database that will allow visitors to enter their loved one's details at a kiosk, where a custom map will print out for them. Although many areas gave the impression of being under construction, the grounds are lovely.

I am from Chicago and it was a great pleasure going to a military cemetery on Memorial Day weekend for my first time to honor our Nation's fallen military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in uniform of the United States Armed Forces. We salute all of our soldiers and veterans and we appreciate their service and sacrifice.

I found this on the old Route 66 mini road trip and I had no idea that this was even on my drive after looking and planning my road trip so I had to stop. The ALNC is almost a 1000 acres with nice uniform tomb stones from any angle that is so cool and perfect with all the contours of the small hills and dips of the land. I stopped by on a Sunday and although the property was open for visitors the building were closed but it was still a cool place to visit. ALNC is a national cemetery available to all armed service members and family depending on eligibility and requirements and for the full experience you have to go Monday to Friday 8 to 4:30 except on federal holidays.

This location is huge! I thought it was closed on the weekends but that's just the office hours. Real hours for grounds is sunrise to sunset. Came here to visit someone close to me that passed away and I've never visited the burial site. I highly reccomend going on their website first where you can look up the name which will give you the location. To save your efforts going tombstone by tombstone. There's an indication on each one to make your life much easier. There's other things to check out here than tombstones, they got beautiful places to check out and walk around at. It features a visitors center. Overall great place to visit. Grounds crew does an outstanding job I might add.

Exception cemetery honoring our local veterans Wreaths Across America place thousands of wreaths every year to honor our veterans. A peaceful place to visit and reflect on their sacrifices

Our visit to this national cemetery was the sa story of Elgin's family-less "unclaimed veteran". Hundreds of strangers turned out for the service at this National Cemetery. This was a formal military ceremony with buglers, bagpipes and an honor guard. It was moving. The staffers were top notch at this solemn interment.

Very solemn and peaceful place of rest for many of our veterans and their loved ones. We were out here for the burial of an acquaintance from our Church and found this cemetery to be a beautiful place. Our friend was an Army veteran and they put on a wonderful burial with military honors. It is steeped in tradition and respect. This National Cemetery is way out in Elwood, Illinois - probably an hour drive from the south suburbs. It is also built to last and supposedly has room for over 400,000 places of rest. We found the cemetery very busy. We arrived with our cortege, followed a few minutes later by another. As we were leaving another was arriving. I am gld we have something like this for our honored veterans.

Thank You for Your Service and Sacrifice. Death ends a life, not a relationship... All the love you created is still there.  All the memories are still there.  You live on in the hearts of  everyone you have touched and  nurtured while you were here... Morrie Schwartz ...thank you daddy

A loved one of mine was laid to rest here, and I have to say, the service was just touching. There was a ceremonial folding of an American Flag, a 3 shot salute, and many kind words from the military members and staff of the cemetery. Afterwards, our family was allowed to say a few things. They do want this kept to a minimum so the whole service is about 20 minutes, because there are more funerals behind you. This was understandable and fine, we weren't too rushed. We had a 1pm funeral time, told to arrive by 1230. When you check into the visitors center they will let you know what lane (there are 4) that your cars will line up in and you will have a staff member take the lead to guide you to your shelter for the service. The only awkward/down-point of this process is that we (and many others I'm sure), did not live close to the cemetery. We left to get there way too early, and they were not too thrilled to see us there that early. The visitors center is lined with chairs, but they again really didn't want us to congregate there. They allowed it when we made it clear were wouldn't leave and come back, but my advice is be cognizant of timing and keep it close to their rules. Other than that, the grounds are beautifully maintained, with multiple different areas to admire (the visitor center has a kiosk to look up where a loved one may be), and we really did have a positive experience here overall.

Haunting & beautiful place. I appreciate all the sacrifices by the people resting here. I was here at 7:00 a.m. visiting my father and they played taps. It was extremely moving.

I brought my elderly mother to the cemetery to visit my dad, her husband. The staff members that helped us were super fantastic!! They brought a golf cart to take her out to the gravesite since she could not walk. I just want to thank the lady from the Information Office for super assistance and the gentleman that assisted her onto the golf cart and drove us out to his grave. Thank you so much!

There's a first time for everything... My first military/veteran funeral service ever and I was so impressed and honored to have been a part of this. I drove 60 miles 1 way to get here to pay respect to my client who passed away. As I got there, I wondered why anyone would want to bury their loved one there and endure that long drive? We were led in a procession style driving our cars through the lots following a representative. At the site, there were 2 young soldiers who saluted our arrival and the rest of them were volunteer vets memorial squad about face to give the military honor standing by the flags with their rifles. The squad fired 3 times in honor of the deceased and the 2 soldiers opened and folded the American flag to be given to my client's representative with a salute. This is why people come here to bury their loved ones. I was so proud of my client to have served his country and was honored til his last moment above ground. This place is absolutely beautiful, clean, organized, serene, and filled with American pride. It was truly an honor to have been a part of this beautiful service.

I am very pleased with the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. My husband, Wayne Lee Jefferson, is buried there and the Cemetery is so very beautiful and well maintained. The ceremony was very moving, bagpipes, gun salute, prayers, presentation of the American Flag to me, and the whole atmosphere. My husband was U.S.Navy and served 1953 through 1957. He was a Pharmacists Mate on the USS Oriskany. He was inactive Navy 1957 through 1961. Thank you, Widow, Verla Taylor Jefferson

My Father, Mother, Brother, and Stepfather are all here. Thanks, Dad, Thanks, Mom, Thanks, Brother, Thanks Stepdad. And Thanks to the staff at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, who are A-1 all the way. They never, ever forget how valuable their 'customers' are. These are the people, in my family's case, who fought for America and won World War II. Everybody I dealt with, at Abraham Lincoln impressed me with their dedication, their devotion to duty, and just plain old kindness. My sincere thanks to everyone there.

This place has been a family memory to me. My aunt Wilma, my uncle Clarence, my grandfather, my brother and a few other family members has been buried here.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is one of the nicest cemeteries I've ever been too. This national shrine is dedicated to all our service men and woman and their spouses if you haven't served you cannot be buried here. The services here are a little different then a normal funeral. You meet in a sheltered canopy to pay your last respects. And all funerals have the gun salute and bagpipes playing taps. Then when the service is over they give you a map where your loved one will be buried or if cremated kept. On busy days they might do 30-60 services at this cemetery. I know first hand about the great people that run this place from dealing with them when we placed my Dad to rest here in June 2010. God Bless all the service men and woman everywhere but especially the ones buried here at Abe Lincoln. God Bless the U.S.A.

Beautiful kept grounds. It's nice to hear the bells, the drive is nice, and the walks you can take are peaceful. I feel a sense of peace when I am here to visit my loved one. The map printed is personalized and very easy to find the exact stone you are searching for.

It's a long way out on I-80. The Military Cemetery. There is not much signage so have your GPS on.There are only military personnel there when there are burials. You time is scheduled by your funeral home planner with whatever branch of the military they were in and the grave site Military people greet you in jeeps. It is intimidating and rather cold. But I get it. If they do not keep people who are emotionally distraught on a firm schedule they can get backed up for hours. If you miss your time you could be denied access. My husband is buried there. It is kept maintained with Perpetual Care and an amazing view of perfectly aligned markers in all directions. Be sure you know your loved ones grave number to find it. The directory in the main chapel is not always working to help you. Following burial you can return another time and can just drive in. There are sign posts to guide you through the grave numbers. The grass is very long but groomed. Take a chair or chairs to set around on your visit as there are none and graves are a long way from the car circle. You can have flowers delivered there and grave wreaths but they remove them quickly. You can register at Find A Grave for your loved ones and post messages and flowers on the web page. There is a photographer no charge who will take a photo of the loved ones grave and marker once you register. It has a tight system for burials and you cannot go to the grave to see the casket lowered. They line up cars at the main reception area and you have to be on time. They guide you to a covered shelter where family can go and you are only allowed 15 minutes for the ceremony with your pastor or family. The 21 gun salute is emotional and you are presented with the flag of your loved one and the first three shell casings. It is all so fast and final. It was emotional. You have to be careful as you enter as there a train track and the trains do not stop..so be careful when you enter. There are signs. It was frightening as they flew buy minutes after I crossed. You feel God there and you feel moved and there is a sense of great honor and humility there. All these men and women who served our country so bravely. I am grateful as my husband was 100% disabled and the US Army allowed us to bury him with most honor possible.

My mom is buried here so we come quite a bit. The grounds are beautifully maintained and far enough away from the city that you can occasionally see wild turkeys, deer, hawks and many other types of wildlife on the premises. I would highly recommend coming here for memorial day festivities. They put on a great memorial. Come early because it gets packed. I have one complaint, and it's not a complaint about the cemetery. It's about some of the people that come here. I've seen people sitting on headstones, letting their dogs poop on the grounds, kids running around aimlessly, etc. This is not a park or a playground. Have some respect.

They do such a nice service. The grounds are peaceful and the funeral honors ceremony they provide is outstanding. I feel comfortable knowing our loved one is resting among the other heroes in this peaceful place.

Our family has several family members buried at the cemetery. And my husband and I plan on being buried there eventually. It is a beautiful place and the services are done with dignity. But today on Memorial Day I was very disappointed to say the least!!! Actually I'm fuming!!! The service was tasteful and caring but I'm sick and tired of politicians taking over the show!! Government officials talking about the VA and all they do for the Vets. My husband is a VERY decorated Veteran of Desert Storm and can't access the VA! He's been told he qualifies for benefits but goes there and is denied!!!!! To hear these politicians get up there and state just how much they're doing is a disgrace!! And to do it on such a solemn day makes it even more so!! It's like a slap in the face!!!! I will not take it out on the Cemetery but it needs to be known just how the service today made many feel!!!

This place is beautiful and peaceful. We just put my Aunt to rest yesterday and it was an honor to be here.

Thank you for a beautifully orchestrated funeral ceremony for my father. At first I thought I would struggle leaving him there, so far away from me. But after seeing the peaceful setting and knowing he was with others who have served, it made me proud of his sacrifice and at ease to know he would be watched and taken care of without me. That is a true gift.

This is were we layed my step father to rest,we communed under a large meeting area, kinda like a gazeebo. This is were fellow veterans gave my father a 21 gun salute...and played the sad trumped song. The workers their were wonderfull. I would have liked to see them bury him, but thats were they left us. You will see the grave when you come to visit. Its very touching to see all of the people who fought for our country.

My husband and I went to the Cemetery to oversee our final affairs what a gift we believe will be to our children it will all be ready for them. Ron is alive and served in the Navy USS ENTERPRISE Viet Nam War we wanted to be put to rest together after almost 50 yrs of marriage after talking to a very nice lady in the office and found out we could be put together our minds where made up where our final resting place would be. I am in awe at how peaceful respectful the cemetery is and the fact I will be laid to rest with HERO'S. I usually hate cemeteries and get creepy feelings I did not there it was so peaceful, respectful, quite and the grounds are so clean you can eat off them, the one thing I can say the goverment spent their money right on is maintaining the National Cemeteries of United States these hero's deserve that much.......God Bless and RIP to all the Hero's at Abe Lincoln their families and most of all God Bless the United States of America.