Fort Bayard National Cemetery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fort Bayard National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of Bayard, in Grant County, New Mexico. It encompasses 18.8 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 3,732 interments. It is one of only two National Cemeteries in New Mexico, and is administered by Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
Contents |
[edit] History
Fort Bayard was built along the Apache Trail, becoming a permanent post in 1866 - the same year the first interment in the cemetery was made. In 1899, the fort was deactivated and it became a tuberculosis hospital and research center. In 1922 the hospital became the part of the Veteran's Administration, and the cemetery officially became Fort Bayard Cemetery, but it did not become part of the National Cemetery system until 1973. In the 1990s the state of New Mexico donated an additional 4 acres to the cemetery.
Fort Bayard National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 7, 2002.
[edit] Notable interments
- Sergeant Alonzo Bowman, Medal of Honor recipient for actions in Arizona Territory during the Indian Wars.
- Wagoner John Schnitzer, Medal of Honor recipient for actions in New Mexico Territory during the Indian Wars.
