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Overview
Snake River Canyon National Cemetery is the first national cemetery in Idaho and is part of the VA National Cemetery Administration Rural Initiative to provide access to VA burial benefits for Veterans who reside in rural areas and who have not previously had reasonable access to a national or state Veterans cemetery.
The VA purchased the 8-acre parcel on September 30, 2016. The first phase of construction began in June of 2017 and was completed in March 2020. The cemetery is designed to accommodate 2,300 casketed gravesites, 2,070 in-ground cremation burial spaces and 2,170 columbaria niche spaces.
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1585 E Elm St (E 4150 N)
Buhl, ID 83316
Visitation Hours: Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day.
We can help you locate a specific gravesite.
Looking for the final resting place of a loved one? We’re here to help. Idaho State Veterans Services can assist you in locating specific gravesites within our state veterans cemeteries, providing the information and guidance you need. Reach out today to begin your search and ensure their service and memory are always honored.
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Planning ahead for a Veteran’s or loved-one’s final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.
Request eligibility status for:
Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
A Veteran’s spouse, widow or widower, minor dependent children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the Veteran.
Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty or who die while on training duty, or were eligible for retired pay, may also be eligible for burial.
Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a phone call to 1-800-535-1117.
For information on scheduled burials in our national cemeteries, please go to the Daily Burial Schedule.
The office for the cemetery is located off-site. Willamette National Cemetery oversees this cemetery. If you are unable to reach cemetery staff at the number above, please call 503-273-5250.
Please note there are no restroom facilities at the cemetery.
For educational materials and additional information on this cemetery, please visit the Education section, located below.
Floral arrangements 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 and potted plants will be permitted on graves between November 1 and March 1. As a general rule, artificial flowers and potted plants will be allowed on graves for a period extending five days before through five days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day.
Holiday wreaths, grave pillows (2×2) and other seasonal adornments may be placed on graves from December 1 through January 20. 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 federal property. Cemetery is not responsible for items left on gravesites.
During the mowing season, arrangements are removed from gravesites on a weekly basis or when they become withered and unsightly.
VA regulations 38 CFR 1.218 prohibit the carrying of firearms (either openly or concealed), explosives or other dangerous or deadly weapons while on VA property, except for official purposes, such as military funeral honors.
Possession of firearms on any property under the charge and control of VA is prohibited. Offenders may be subject to a fine, removal from the premises, or arrest.
We are developing educational content for this national cemetery, and will post new materials as they become available. Visit the Veterans Legacy Program and NCA History Program for additional information. Thank you for your interest.
Families have three options for laying their loved one to rest in Idaho: two state veteran cemeteries in Boise & Blackfoot and one national cemetery in Buhl.
National cemeteries are operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, while state cemeteries—though sometimes established or improved with national government funds—are managed by the local state government.
Eligibility for burial and inurnment at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery (ISVC) follows the National Cemetery Administration guidelines and Idaho law. Generally, an honorably discharged veteran who served on active duty before September 7, 1980, is eligible. For service after September 7, 1980, veterans must have completed at least 24 months of active duty or a federally ordered deployment to qualify. Exceptions apply, including for members of Reserve Components, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or those with “other than dishonorable” discharges under certain conditions. All service members are encouraged to apply, and we will determine eligibility. Residency in Idaho is not required.
No, a spouse (or dependent) who meet the eligibility criteria can be interred at the veteran’s cemetery.
No, the veteran is entitled to the burial plot. However, if the veteran is predeceased by a spouse, the spouse (or eligible dependent) is entitled to immediate interment.
Each veteran is entitled to one plot, which can be shared with a spouse (or eligible dependent). So yes, you will be together.
Female Veterans married to a Veteran are entitled to their own separate grave, headstone or marker, burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate. However, they may choose to be buried in the same gravesite as their spouse.
When scheduling a burial at an Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, we address each family’s request with the utmost consideration and professionalism.
First, the family or funeral home should submit the “Request for Burial” along with all required documents in person, via email, or by fax for review. We recommend gathering all necessary documentation before attempting to schedule the service. The cemetery staff will need to confirm the decedent’s eligibility for burial. Any requested documents can be emailed to BoiseCemetery@veterans.idaho.gov or BlackfootCemetery@veterans.idaho.gov.
The required documents are:
• DD214 (or service equivalent), with an honorable character of service, to establish eligibility for the eligible service member.
• Marriage certificate, if applicable.
• Documents for the person authorized to direct disposition and act on behalf of the primary next of kin, if applicable, should be provided.
It is the family’s responsibility to provide the service member’s eligibility documents. A service will not be scheduled until all required documents have been received. Instructions on how to make an emergency records request.
Scheduling military funeral services at an ISVC is influenced by factors such as the type of remains, plot location, and the preferences of the individual family. We strive to communicate effectively with families at each step of the process to help them understand their options.
If you have not received a call within 24-hours of submission, please contact the Boise office at 208-780-1340 or Blackfoot at 208-701-7161.
The ISVC will provide the amount, as there are several factors to consider.
The ISVC does not provide transportation to funerals. Attendees must arrange their own transportation.
The U.S. government will provide, at no cost, an upright granite headstone, flat marker, or niche cover for the plot of the deceased veteran or spouse. ISVC staff will place the order with the National Cemetery Administration. The order will include the appropriate inscription and the choice of an optional emblem. The marker’s design template will be finalized with cemetery staff on the day of the interment, and the next of kin will review the proposed marker cover text template before the order is submitted.
For interments that are ineligible for a USDVA-provided marker under the Burial Equity Act, the Administrator will charge a fee for the plot marker. The order for the marker will include the appropriate inscription and the choice of an optional emblem. The template will be finalized with cemetery staff on the day of the interment, and the next of kin will review the proposed marker text before the order is submitted.
To locate a grave or place of inurnment:
If visiting in person, you may also inquire with staff at the cemetery office.
• Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. ISVC provides portable temporary cones for flowers that the public may use. These cones can be found at locations throughout the cemetery.
• Permanent flower containers and planting of flowers and shrubs are prohibited.
The niche is 10″ wide by 14″ high by 19″ deep which accommodates two urns. We ask you subtract 1″ from the height and width of each urn to ensure it fits (9″ x 13″ x 9″).
If you or someone you know are in crisis, please call the Veterans' Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8.
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