Barrancas National Cemetery — Local services in Florida

Both my grandma and grandpa are at Barrancas Cemetery. Even for such an emotionally hard and trying time to experience, everyone at Barrancas made everything so beautiful. The maintenance does a wonderful job with upkeep of the grounds and anyone there is more than willing to help you locate someone laid to rest at Barrancas. Just keep in mind the policy on flowers.... copied from their website on 7/1/2016 Floral arrangements (limit of three) accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing.

Artificial flowers will be permitted on graves only during the period from Nov. 10 through March 1.

Potted plants will be permitted on graves only during the period extending 10 days before through 10 days after Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Christmas.

Christmas wreaths, grave blankets and other seasonal adornments may be placed on graves 10 days before through 10 days after Christmas. They may not be secured to headstones or markers.

Permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, breakable objects and similar items are not permitted on the graves. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not permit adornments that are considered offensive, inconsistent with the dignity of the cemetery or considered hazardous to cemetery personnel. For example, items incorporating beads or wires may become entangled in mowers or other equipment and cause injury.

Permanent items removed from graves will be placed in an inconspicuous holding area for one month prior to disposal. Decorative items removed from graves remain the property of the donor but are under the custodianship of the cemetery. If not retrieved by the donor, they are then governed by the rules for disposal of...

I have never visited Barrancas Nat. cemetary but a dear friend I met many years ago during the Vietnam War received a box of goodies near Christmas time when back then you.could address a box "To any Service Man" and somehow he received my box. We started a writing friendship and I looked forward to hearing from.him now and then. He was quiet busy as he was in the Air Force. We wrote back and forth for at least a year or.more and I was happy to tell.him things just to break up the horrors if what he was assigned to do while in Vietnam. One day a package.came to our.home and in it was a beautiful pair of pink pj's with amazing embroidery on them and also a darling black jacket for my.then 2 year old.son I was so Overwhelmed with his kindness and I have never forgotten him since. When my Son outgrew the jacket I saved it for over 50 years in a box covered with plastic and put it in my bureau. Every now and them I just looked at it and one day I said I MUST do.something with this beautiful jacket. Being a Veteran myself and a proud Woman Marine I decided to take the map of Vietnam that was embroidered on the back of the jacket and have it sewn in the middle and start my patch jacket with things I wanted to remember from my time in the military and also to remember this sweet young man who I still feel.very fond of till.this day. We had never met and I was really sad when I found out that he was killed over there somewhere near Danang. I will never forget him and I wish I was able to visit his graveside but I live in Pennsylvania and it is too.far for me to travel anymore but I wish I could. I know he is up there and happy and I am.close to meeting him some day . I will be soo happy to finally do that trip... God Thank you.for putting him in my life even though we never met I have always had wonderful notes and his kindness. Bless him dear Lord and thank...

Both of my parents are here; my father was buried in the cemetery in 1999, and I placed my mother's ashes next to his in 2010. My dad's dog tag, which I paired with my own to keep his company, were still shiny after 11 years. I don't know if the staff here polished them up after they opened up the hole and before I got there to bury my mom, but I wouldn't be surprised. All of the folks that I've ever met here seem genuinely honored to serve and comfort the families that arrive.

I'll be buried with my parents or have my own marker one day. Not sure how that works and it's morbid to contemplate, but the cycle of life misses nobody. I was glad to serve my nation and can't think of a better place to lay in peace than Barrancas, with the Blue Angels above. Requiescat in pace,...