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Great Lakes National Cemetery

Great Lakes National Cemetery

History and Background

The property was purchased on November 21, 2002 for $6.2 million. The property had been owned by the Horton Family for over 160 years.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 14, 2004 and was attended by over 1,400 people. The first phase of construction began in October 2004.

The 544.3 acre site will be developed in phases over the next several decades. The cemetery will be able to accommodate hundreds of thousands of veterans and their family members.

The cemetery began burial operations October 17, 2005 and currently averages 10 burials per day.

On November 11, 2005, the Great Lakes National Cemetery Advisory Council hosted the first annual Veteran's Day Ceremony. As part of the program, the Avenue of Flags was established by raising the first 34 flags on poles donated by various Veterans Service Organizations and community groups. The cemetery now has 100 flagpoles on the Avenue of flags thanks to additional donations from the community.

A formal dedication was held June 3, 2006.



Message from the Great Lakes National Cemetery Staff

Welcome to the Great Lakes National Cemetery. We hope you find peace here · and visit us again.

Families often contact us during a difficult ti me - after the loss of a loved one.

We're here to make the burial process as comfortable as possible. We encourage veterans and their families to talk with us in advance for information or about any questions or concerns.

When the time comes, we will ensure the committal service and any other requests are handled respectfully. We pledge to honor the dignity and memory of each person and to provide excellent service to family and friends during this difficult time.



Making Burial Arrangements

The funeral home will contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office on your behalf to make burial arrangements for Veterans and/or their eligible dependents.

The funeral home will fax all available military discharge documents to the scheduling office and follow up with a call. If military discharge documents are not available, scheduling office representatives will assist the funeral home or next-of-kin with the verification process. The process may requires 48 hours or more to determine eligibility for burial in a national cemetery.

The scheduling office will be open seven (7) days a week, from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Central time, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The funeral home will contact the cemetery directly to:

  • Schedule active duty interments
  • Schedule memorial services without interment
  • Cancel or reschedule interments
  • Change information initially provided to the scheduling office
  • Request disinterment or relocation of remains


Burial benefits provided by the national Cemetery Administration, at no cost to the Veteran, include: burial plot; opening and closing of the gravesite; a government liner; headstone or marker with inscription; interment flag, perpetual are of the gravesite; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Funeral director’s services are not covered.

Gravesites are assigned by the cemetery and cannot be selected in advance. Assignments are made without regard to rank, ethnic or religious background, branch of service or other factors.

The veteran and spouse are interred in the same grave. If both were Veterans, they may choose to be buried side-by-side in separate graves.

Military honors are provided by the Department of Defense and are to be arranged by the funeral director. If there is no funeral director, cemetery staff will assist the family in arranging for military honors.

Burials and interments are scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except designated holidays. Great Lakes National Cemetery has the following burial site options:

  • Casket: in-ground only
  • Cremation: in ground only
  • Cremation: above-ground columbarium
  • This cemetery has a scattering garden. Families with no remains to inter, due to scattering, burial at sea, or for others reasons may order a memorial marker.



We are a full service funeral home, offering families an everlasting cemetery memorial at a reduced price. We can custom design a monument, marker, or bench that will be a special tribute to your loved one.

Our funeral home uses a local family owned and operated monument and marker company.
Call us first at: 1-989-895-9601 or 1-989-893-1616.

We Accept all Major Credit Cards


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Ambrose Funeral Home
Phone: 1-989-895-9601
1200 Garfield Avenue, Bay City, MI 48708

Squires Funeral Home
Phone: 1-989-893-1616
211 N. Henry Street, Bay City, MI 48706

Handicap Accessible Logo Both locations are 100% handicapped accessible and ground level.

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