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By J.R. Brower

The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies is a very unique and special federal landmark tucked away in the beautiful western foothills of the Allegheny Mountains next to I-79, a short distance from Hendersonville and Southpointe.

Hundreds of gravestones align in the meadow on a May morning.

Located in northeastern Cecil Township, the cemetery was dedicated on October 9, 2005, following the first burials that took place on August 15. It was constructed on farmland and contains a small farm cemetery with graves dating to the late 18th Century. As well, the site has been constantly farmed since the 1800s, and was the flash point of the historic Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.

Currently, the cemetery includes over 8,000 graves and averages 27 burials a week. Plans are in the works to add more than 10,000 burial sites for veterans. The proposed 25-acre expansion would include at least 6,500 burial plots and an above-ground tomb, or columbarium that would hold 4,000 funeral urns, according the cemetery's director, Ronald Hestdalen.

When fully completed, it will provide over 100,000 burial spaces. The national cemetery will serve veterans and their families well into the next century. The cemetery spans 292 acres of land, and it is open to visitors daily from sunrise to sunset.

Yearly events include a Memorial Day Ceremony held the Sunday before Memorial Day at 11:00 a.m. and a Veterans Day Ceremony held on Veterans Day at 11 a.m. The special Memorial Day service was held this year on May 24.

Michael Khalil, from Peters Township, reflected on the purpose of the peaceful memorial. "When I first heard they were putting a national cemetery in Cecil, I couldn't understand why they would locate it there," he stated,

This U.S. Air Force 911th Airlift Wing memorial stone was "given honorably in the memory of all those, past and present, who have served" by their retirees group. It was dedicated on September 18, 2013.

continuing, "But once you go and look around, you suddenly realize exactly why they put it there amongst the rolling hills. The government bought a lot of land surrounding the cemetery, so no one can ever build around it. It's definitely a very solemn and beautiful place."

Kelly Scabilloni, whose father-in-law is buried here, said, "I lost my dear father-in-law not too long ago. That's what brought me to this place. All these men and women here deserve no less than something this beautiful, and to be honored this way is very special. Plus, it's right in the area. All in all, it makes me proud to be an American."

The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies address is 1158 Morgan Road Bridgeville, PA 15017. The phone number is 724-746-4363. The website is: http://www.cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/ncalleghenies.asp.

The location of the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies is easy to find. Coming from Canonsburg on Morganza Road, you would turn left on Morgan Road. Coming from Bridgeville on Morganza Road, you would turn right left on Morgan Road, and then go about a half mile over I-79 to the site on the left.

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