Black Hills National Cemetery
Located just three miles east of Sturgis, South Dakota in the Black Hills area is the Black Hills National Cemetery. A great distance from the well known Arlington National Cemetery, this sacred ground provides a final resting place for many of the nation's veterans. Row upon row of white marble tombstones line the grassy slopes.
This land was once the homeland of the Lakota Indians. Later it became the area settled by French explorers who established a fur trapping and trading business in the area. When gold was discovered in the Black Hills, there was a huge rush of prospectors which created tensions with the Indians. Then the railroad came which encouraged more settlement.
In 1947, Congressman Francis Case endorsed the concept of a regional national cemetery. With the support of various South Dakota veterans' organizations and the South Dakota Veterans Department, a site just outside of Sturgis on the Fort Meade Military Reservation was selected. The 105-acre tract was transferred to the Department of the Army and on Oct. 3, 1948, Fort Meade National Cemetery was dedicated.
The name of the cemetery was changed from Fort Meade National Cemetery to Black Hills National Cemetery in 1949 to avoid confusion with the existing active military installation in Maryland and in recognition of the area's historical significance.
One of the most noted burials in this cemetery is that of Sergeant Charles Windolph (Indian Campaigns), Troop H, 7th Cavalry. Battle at Little Big Horn, Mont., June 25 – 26, 1876. His grave can be found in Section A, Grave 239 directly across from the front doors of the administration building.
Currently Outside
