Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Agawam
42°02′46″N 72°36′59″W / 42.046200046315306°N 72.61651654886823°W
| Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Agawam | |
|---|---|
Section 3C of the cemetery in October 2025 | |
Interactive map of Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Agawam | |
| Details | |
| Established | May 21, 2001 |
| Location | 1390 Main Street Agawam, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Owned by | Commonwealth of Massachusetts[1] |
| Size | 61 acres (25 ha) |
The Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Agawam is a veterans cemetery in Agawam, Massachusetts, opened in May 2001.[2][3][4]
It is located at 1390 Main Street, next to Six Flags New England,[5] and serves veterans and their spouses from Western Massachusetts.[6][7][8]
History
Arrangements by the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services to establish the cemetery began in 1996, and a formal groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 8, 1997.[9]
The 61-acre cemetery officially opened on May 21, 2001, with enough space for approximately 50,000 graves.[10][11] The first veteran buried was Air Force technical sergeant Robert L. LaRue, on May 23.[6]
Winchendon
The Agawam cemetery is the first of two state veterans cemeteries established in Massachusetts. The other opened in Winchendon in 2004.[2][12]
Notable interments
- Sue C. Nichols (1965–2020), artist[13]
References
- ^ "Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemeteries". lexingtonma.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Agawam". mass.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ O'Connor, Samantha; Guidry, Hanna (September 23, 2025). "Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery awarded over $2M in grants". WGGB-TV. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ Wehner, Beck; Thomas, Kayleigh (September 24, 2025). "VA awards $2 million in grant funds to Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam". WWLP. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ "Agent issues reminder on cemetery opening". The Republican. April 19, 2001. p. 47. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Symington, Michelle. "Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam receives a $4.8 million expansion grant". The Reminder. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ Ducoff, Walter. "Map Layout of MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS' MEMORIAL CEMETERY". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ Simison, Cynthia G. (May 24, 2020). "Agawam Veterans Memorial Cemetery marks 20th Memorial Day: Viewpoint". MassLive. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ "Veterans' cemetery ceremonies slated". The Republican. October 6, 1997. p. 27. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Ross, Ken (May 22, 2001). "Cemetery opening awes vets". The Republican. p. 17. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "State dedicates veterans' cemetery". Cape Cod Times. April 23, 2001. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ Murray, Mary (February 3, 2004). "Veterans' cemetery slated to open in fall; volunteers called to serve in running it". The Gardner News. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ "Sue C. Nichols - MBC Diary". mothernichols.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2025.