The Fallen, originally uploaded by canadian_photography.

Shot with a lensbaby composer on a Canon 5D.

San Francisco National Cemetery

The San Francisco national Cemetery was first established in 1885 under the war Department of America. This 9.5 acre area was actually first used as a burial ground by the U.S. Army in 1847. The original Spanish burial ground is actually still located near building 105 and there are many graves that have been established since 1854.

The area has a long-established history and Army personnel began burying deceased and their family in this area as early as 1854. Since that time the San Francisco national Cemetery has expanded with plots still available for US Armed Forces members. A minimum active-duty service requirement needs to be met in order for eligibility to be established. Veterans and active service people can be eligible for burial as well as their families in this area but they need to qualify. As a result the vast majority of sites in this graveyard are active service people.

There are people that have died across many wars from Afghanistan, Vietnam, the Gulf War, World War I, World War II and more. There are also a large number of family members of active service people who were able to live long and fulfilling lives from the sacrifices of their peers. The San Francisco national cemetery however is a space where the dead can be united once more.

So much of the national cemetery is historically significant. The original main gate was built in 1910 and has maintained its appearance commemorating 517 unknown soldiers in a monument.

Today the national cemetery is not only a place for soldiers to be laid to rest but also a regular visitor attraction. Many people come to pay their respects to US soldiers who gave their life maintaining the  freedom of the US people. The cemetery also has kiosks and assistance to help you find lost family members or ancient descendants. It’s estimated over 30,000 people who served in the military are buried in this cemetery with 35 Congressional medal of honour recipients. You can see the total cemetery of 30 acres from the Golden Gate Bridge or from Highway 101 in the south and north bound lanes.