Fort Custer National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in Augusta, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It encompasses 770.4 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 20,656 interments. Augusta is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Kalamazoo County is a county located in the state of Michigan. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

Named for General George Armstrong Custer, the original Camp Custer was built in 1917 as part of the military mobilization during World War I. After the war, it also served as a demobilization camp. The cemetery itself was not created until 1943. During World War II Fort Custer was expanded to serve as a training ground and as a place to hold German prisoners of war, some of which died while in captivity and were buried in the cemetery. George Armstrong Custer George Armstrong Custer (December 5, 1839–June 25, 1876) was a United States Army cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead:5 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:8 million Military dead:4 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:7 million World War I... 1943 (MCMXLIII) is a common year starting on Friday. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead:17 million Civilian dead:33 million Total dead:50 million Military dead:8 million Civilian dead:4 million Total dead:12 million World War II...

It was not until 1981 that Fort Custer cemetery officially became Fort Custer National Cemetery, receiving a large plot of land from the Fort Custer National Military Reservation for expansion. In 1997 another expansion was made, with the addition of 60 more acres. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Notable monuments

• The Avenue of Flags, a row of 152 flag poles along the main road of the cemetery, as well as an additional 50 flag poles, one for each state flag, in a semi-circle at the road end.

See also

• United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• United States National Cemetery

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for administering programs of veterans benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors. ...

External links

• National Cemetery Administration
• Fort Custer National Cemetery