National Cemetery Administration

Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery
P.O. Box 8
10175 Rawiga Road
Rittman, OH 44270
Phone: (330) 335-3069
FAX: (330) 335-5087
To schedule burials: See General Information

Office Hours:
Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day.

Visitation Hours:
Open daily during daylight hours.

Burial Space: This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.

General Information Kiosk on Site? Yes

Floral/Grounds Policy

Directions from nearest airport: 
When using any Computer Map Program (ex: Map Quest) use Zip Code 44273.

From the North: Cleveland / Cleveland Hopkins Airport: Take Interstate 71 South to Interstate 76 East (exit 209). Take Interstate 76 East to Exit 2 (Route 3/Seville). Turn right onto Route 3. Go to the first traffic light, Greenwich Road. Turn Left onto Greenwich Road. Travel three miles to Rawiga Road. Turn Right onto Rawiga Road. Cemetery is 1¼ mile down on the left.

From the West: Lodi -- Take Interstate 76 East to Exit 2 (Route 3/Seville). Turn right onto Route 3. Go to the first traffic light, Greenwich Road. Turn left onto Greenwich Road. Travel three miles to Rawiga Road. Turn right onto Rawiga Road. Cemetery is 1¼ mile down on the left.

From the South: Columbus – Take Interstate 71 North to Interstate 76 East (exit 209). Take Interstate 76 East to Exit 2 (Route 3/Seville). Turn right onto Route 3. Go to the first traffic light, Greenwich Road. Turn left onto Greenwich Road. Travel three miles to Rawiga Road. Turn right onto Rawiga Road. Cemetery is 1¼ mile down on the left

From the Southeast: Canton or from Akron/Canton Airport: Take Interstate 77 North to State Route 224. Go West on Route 224; will merge with Interstate 76. Then follow Akron Directions

From East: Akron – Take Interstate 76/Route 224 West to Exit 7 (Route 57/Rittman). Turn left onto Route 57. Go to the first traffic light, Seville Road. Turn right onto Seville Road. Travel three miles to Rawiga Road. Turn left onto Rawiga Road. Cemetery is ¼ mile down on the left.

GENERAL INFORMATION

To schedule a 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.

The Public Information Center at the cemetery is staffed with volunteers Monday through Friday. If you would like to volunteer please call the cemetery office.

Military Funeral Honors
Various Veterans Service Organizations provide military funeral honors.
back to top

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is the second national cemetery built in Ohio and the 119th in the national cemetery system.

Currently, there are more than one million veterans living in the State of Ohio and approximately 540,000 residing in the cemetery’s service area. The first two phases of construction, covering 65 acres of 273-acre cemetery, included 21,000 gravesites, 10,100 columbaria niches and 3,800 in-ground garden niches for cremated remains. At full capacity, Ohio Western Reserve can provide burial space for 106,000 eligible veterans and dependents, beyond the year 2050.

Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery lies approximately 45 miles south of Cleveland in Medina County near the town of Rittman. The cemetery’s name refers to the part of the Northwest Territory formerly known as the Connecticut Western Reserve, a tract of land in Northeast Ohio reserved by the State of Connecticut when it ceded its claims for western lands to the U.S. government in 1786.

Monuments and Memorials
Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery features a pathway that is lined with memorials that honor America’s veterans, which have been donated by various organizations. As of 2011, there were 122 memorials, most commemorating events and troops of 20th century war.
back to top

NOTABLE PERSONS

back to top

FLORAL/GROUNDS POLICY

Cemetery policies are conspicuously posted and readily visible to the public.

Up to three 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 will be permitted on graves from November 1 through April 15. Artificial flowers and potted plants will be allowed on graves for a period extending 10 days before through 10 days after Easter Sunday, Memorial Day.

Christmas wreaths, grave blankets 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.

Decorative items removed from graves remain the property of the donor but are under the custodianship of the cemetery. If not retrieved by donor, they are then governed by the rules for disposal of federal property.
back to top

Weapons Policy
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.