Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery

The Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery at Evansville, just outside Casper, is Wyoming's state veterans cemetery. Its position near the center of the state is deliberate, putting it within reach of most of Wyoming's population. For an eligible veteran the burial plot and the vault are provided at no cost. Family members may also be buried there. Because Wyoming has a single state cemetery, a family should also weigh the federal options. Wyoming has no national cemetery of its own; the nearest are in neighboring states, which for much of Wyoming means a longer trip than Evansville. That makes the state cemetery the practical choice for most Wyoming families rather than one option among several. Eligibility follows the usual pattern of service and a qualifying discharge, with spouses and dependent children eligible on their own terms. There is no disability rating requirement. Military funeral honors are provided through the Wyoming Military Department's funeral honors program, at no charge, with a minimum of the sounding of Taps and the folding and presentation of the flag. Wyoming also provides a county-level burial assistance for a low-income veteran, covered in its own entry here, which addresses the costs the cemetery benefit does not. There is no advance reservation of a specific grave, but establishing eligibility in advance spares a family from proving it under time pressure. Contact the Wyoming Veterans Commission, which administers the cemetery, and tell the family where the discharge paperwork is kept.