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During the late 1890s, a committee recommended that the Punchbowl become the site for a new cemetery to accommodate the growing population of Honolulu. The idea was rejected for fear of polluting the water supply and the emotional aversion to creating a city of the dead above a city of the living. Fifty years later, Congress authorized a small appropriation to establish a national cemetery in Honolulu with two provisions: that the location be acceptable to the War Department, and that the site would be donated rather than purchased. In 1943, the governor of Hawaii offered the Punchbowl for this purpose. The $50,000 appropriation proved insufficient, however, and the project was deferred until after World War II. By 1947, Congress and veteran organizations placed a great deal of pressure on the military to find a permanent burial site in Hawaii for the remains of thousands of World War II servicemen on the island of [[Guam]] awaiting permanent burial. Subsequently, the Army again began planning the Punchbowl cemetery.
During the late 1890s, a committee recommended that the Punchbowl become the site for a new cemetery to accommodate the growing population of Honolulu. The idea was rejected for fear of polluting the water supply and the emotional aversion to creating a city of the dead above a city of the living. Fifty years later, Congress authorized a small appropriation to establish a national cemetery in Honolulu with two provisions: that the location be acceptable to the War Department, and that the site would be donated rather than purchased. In 1943, the governor of Hawaii offered the Punchbowl for this purpose. The $50,000 appropriation proved insufficient, however, and the project was deferred until after World War II. By 1947, Congress and veteran organizations placed a great deal of pressure on the military to find a permanent burial site in Hawaii for the remains of thousands of World War II servicemen on the island of [[Guam]] awaiting permanent burial. Subsequently, the Army again began planning the Punchbowl cemetery.


In February 1948, Congress approved funding and construction began on the national cemetery. Since the cemetery was dedicated on September 2, 1949, approximately 53,000  [[World War II]], [[Korean War]], and [[Vietnam War]] veterans and their dependents have been interred. The cemetery now almost exclusively accepts cremated remains for above-ground placement in [[columbaria]]; [[Coffin|casket]]ed and [[cremated]] remains of eligible family members of those already interred there may, however, be considered for burial.
In February 1948, Congress approved funding and construction began on the national cemetery. Since the cemetery was dedicated on September 2, 1949, approximately 53,000  [[World War II]], Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans and their dependents have been interred. The cemetery now almost exclusively accepts cremated remains for above-ground placement in [[columbaria]]; [[Coffin|casket]]ed and [[cremated]] remains of eligible family members of those already interred there may, however, be considered for burial.


Prior to the opening of the cemetery for the recently deceased, the remains of soldiers from locations around the Pacific Theater—including Guam, [[Wake Island]], and Japanese POW camps—were transported to Hawaii for final interment. The first interment was made January 4, 1949. The cemetery opened to the public on July 19, 1949, with services for five war dead: an unknown serviceman, two Marines, an Army lieutenant and one noted civilian war correspondent [[Ernie Pyle]]. Initially, the graves at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific were marked with white wooden [[cross]]es and [[Stars of David]]—like the American cemeteries abroad—in preparation for the dedication ceremony on the fourth anniversary of [[V-J Day]]. Eventually, over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during World War II would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl. Despite the Army's extensive efforts to inform the public that the star- and cross-shaped grave markers were only temporary, an outcry arose in 1951 when permanent flat granite markers replaced them.
Prior to the opening of the cemetery for the recently deceased, the remains of soldiers from locations around the Pacific Theater—including Guam, [[Wake Island]], and Japanese POW camps—were transported to Hawaii for final interment. The first interment was made January 4, 1949. The cemetery opened to the public on July 19, 1949, with services for five war dead: an unknown serviceman, two Marines, an Army lieutenant and one noted civilian war correspondent [[Ernie Pyle]]. Initially, the graves at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific were marked with white wooden [[cross]]es and [[Stars of David]]—like the American cemeteries abroad—in preparation for the dedication ceremony on the fourth anniversary of [[V-J Day]]. Eventually, over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during World War II would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl. Despite the Army's extensive efforts to inform the public that the star- and cross-shaped grave markers were only temporary, an outcry arose in 1951 when permanent flat granite markers replaced them.
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A new 25-bell carillon built by Schulmerich Carillons, Inc. was dedicated in 1956 during Veteran's Day services. The carillon is nicknamed "Coronation" and was funded in part by the Pacific War Memorial Commission and individual contributions. [[Arthur Godfrey]] helped to raise funds.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=February 1, 1956 |title=Hawaii Volcano Crater has new 25-bell Carillon |url=https://www.thediapason.com/sites/thediapason/files/195602TheDiapasonA.pdf |journal=[[The Diapason]] |volume=47 |issue=3 |page=6}}</ref>
A new 25-bell carillon built by Schulmerich Carillons, Inc. was dedicated in 1956 during Veteran's Day services. The carillon is nicknamed "Coronation" and was funded in part by the Pacific War Memorial Commission and individual contributions. [[Arthur Godfrey]] helped to raise funds.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=February 1, 1956 |title=Hawaii Volcano Crater has new 25-bell Carillon |url=https://www.thediapason.com/sites/thediapason/files/195602TheDiapasonA.pdf |journal=[[The Diapason]] |volume=47 |issue=3 |page=6}}</ref>


The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was the first such cemetery to install [[United States Bicentennial|Bicentennial]] [[Medal of Honor]] headstones, the medal insignia being defined in gold leaf. On May 11, 1976, a total of 23 of these were placed on the graves of medal recipients, all but one of whom were killed in action.
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was the first such cemetery to install [[United States Bicentennial|Bicentennial]] Medal of Honor headstones, the medal insignia being defined in gold leaf. On May 11, 1976, a total of 23 of these were placed on the graves of medal recipients, all but one of whom were killed in action.


In August 2001, about 70 generic "Unknown" markers for the graves of men known to have died during the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] were replaced with markers that included {{USS|Arizona|BB-39}} after it was determined they perished on this vessel. In addition, new information that identified grave locations of 175 men whose graves were previously marked as "Unknown" resulted in the installation of new markers in October 2002.
In August 2001, about 70 generic "Unknown" markers for the graves of men known to have died during the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] were replaced with markers that included {{USS|Arizona|BB-39}} after it was determined they perished on this vessel. In addition, new information that identified grave locations of 175 men whose graves were previously marked as "Unknown" resulted in the installation of new markers in October 2002.
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===The National Park service and National Memorial Cemetery===
===The National Park service and National Memorial Cemetery===
During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the U.S. government feared for the sanctity of the graves of fallen Union soldiers and issued General Orders No. 33, of April 3, 1862, Moving to give federal protection to Union grave sites pushing The Act of July 17, 1862, which gave the President the authority, “whenever in his opinion it shall be expedient, to purchase cemetery grounds and cause them to be securely enclosed, to be used as a national cemetery for the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country. To further protect the sites of fallen heroes congress approves of the "Reburial Program" on April 13, 1866, stating the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and required to take immediate measures to preserve the graves of soldiers of the United States who fell in battle and secure suitable burial places in which they may be properly interred; and to have the grounds enclosed, so that the resting-places of the honored dead may be kept sacred forever followed on February 22, 1867, with an “Act to establish and to protect National Cemeteries.” This was followed on July 1, 1870, by an Act of Congress authorizing the United States to take title to any national cemeteries where the States had given their consent, and on May 18, 1872, by an Act authorizing the Secretary of War to appoint superintendents. Still, more action was needed such as The Yosemite and Yellowstone Acts (1889,90), The Lacy Act (1900), The Antiquities Act (1906), and The Organic Act (1916) which leads to President Woodrow Wilson signing the act creating the [[National Park Service]], a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior on August 25, 1916, which encompasses all locations protected by the previous acts.
During the Civil War, the U.S. government feared for the sanctity of the graves of fallen Union soldiers and issued General Orders No. 33, of April 3, 1862, Moving to give federal protection to Union grave sites pushing The Act of July 17, 1862, which gave the President the authority, “whenever in his opinion it shall be expedient, to purchase cemetery grounds and cause them to be securely enclosed, to be used as a national cemetery for the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country. To further protect the sites of fallen heroes congress approves of the "Reburial Program" on April 13, 1866, stating the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and required to take immediate measures to preserve the graves of soldiers of the United States who fell in battle and secure suitable burial places in which they may be properly interred; and to have the grounds enclosed, so that the resting-places of the honored dead may be kept sacred forever followed on February 22, 1867, with an “Act to establish and to protect National Cemeteries.” This was followed on July 1, 1870, by an Act of Congress authorizing the United States to take title to any national cemeteries where the States had given their consent, and on May 18, 1872, by an Act authorizing the Secretary of War to appoint superintendents. Still, more action was needed such as The Yosemite and Yellowstone Acts (1889,90), The Lacy Act (1900), The Antiquities Act (1906), and The Organic Act (1916) which leads to President Woodrow Wilson signing the act creating the [[National Park Service]], a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior on August 25, 1916, which encompasses all locations protected by the previous acts.


The National Park Service has managed national cemeteries since 1972 and all were transferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior by Executive Order 6228 of July 28, 1933.
The National Park Service has managed national cemeteries since 1972 and all were transferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior by Executive Order 6228 of July 28, 1933.
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:IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD
:IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD


At the top of the staircase in the Court of Honor is a statue of [[Columbia (name)#Columbia personified|Lady Columbia]], also known as Lady Liberty, or Justice.  Here she is reported to represent all grieving mothers.  She stands on the bow of a ship holding a laurel branch.  The inscription below the statue, taken from [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s [[letter to Mrs. Bixby]], reads:
At the top of the staircase in the Court of Honor is a statue of [[Columbia (name)#Columbia personified|Lady Columbia]], also known as Lady Liberty, or Justice.  Here she is reported to represent all grieving mothers.  She stands on the bow of a ship holding a laurel branch.  The inscription below the statue, taken from Abraham Lincoln's [[letter to Mrs. Bixby]], reads:


:THE SOLEMN PRIDE
:THE SOLEMN PRIDE
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==Notable interments and memorials==
==Notable interments and memorials==
* [[Medal of Honor]] recipients
* Medal of Honor recipients
** [[William R. Caddy]] (1925–1945), World War II {{KIA}}
** [[William R. Caddy]] (1925–1945), World War II {{KIA}}
** [[George H. Cannon]] (1915–1941), World War II {{KIA}}
** [[George H. Cannon]] (1915–1941), World War II {{KIA}}
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