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Columbarium Update

May 1, 2025. The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (USNA AA&F) and the U.S. Naval Academy announced last month that the Columbarium—a popular and honored location for our alumni since its opening in 1987—is nearly out of available niches.

Fewer than 20 new niches now remain at the Columbarium, and the USNA Memorial Affairs team estimates that the current Columbarium will reach capacity for new or first inurnments by the end of the summer of 2025.

USNA AA&F, in close partnership with the Naval Academy, is actively working on plans to expand the Columbarium. The expansion project aims to ensure that alumni who wish to be inurned at the Academy will have the opportunity to do so.

The immediate plan, thanks to lead philanthropic support from the Class of 1975, involves the construction of a new 650 niche wall at the top of the hill, overlooking College Creek. The design for this expansion is complete; however, the project requires $1.8 million in additional philanthropic support to move forward.

USNA AA&F is seeking other supporters to follow ‘75’s lead and consider contributing to this vital project.

“We need to raise the necessary funds to ensure that all our alumni have a dignified resting place,” said AA&F Executive Director of Memorial Services, Wes Huey ‘87. “This is how we alumni take care of each other until that final bell, and we are committed to reaching our goal with the support of our community.”

In addition to the immediate expansion, the AA&F and USNA staff are also planning for future phases of the Columbarium’s growth. Options are being explored now, and designs will be developed for those future expansions.

“Memorial services at USNA for our alumni is an example of the partnership and synergy between the Yard and the AA&F,” said Huey, who has directed Memorial Services at the AA&F since 2023. “While the Naval Academy staff runs the services at the Columbarium, it is the generosity of our alumni that provides for these places of final rest.”

The original Columbarium completed in 1987 was principally sponsored by the Alumni Association, including a major grant from the George and Carol Olmsted Foundation in memory of Jerauld L. Olmsted, Class of 1922. The Class of 1959 sponsored an oratory and upgrades to the Columbarium in 2004. The Naval Academy Foundation has set up a general fund for the Columbarium expansion and is reaching out to classes to garner support.

In the interim, USNA will implement a waiting list for deceased alumni who expressed wishes to be inurned in the new annex of the Columbarium. The process for signing up for the waiting list is the same as for scheduling a Columbarium service – notify the Memorial Affairs team on the Yard when the qualified alumni or alumni spouse has passed away.

While awaiting the opening of the new annex, families are welcome to work with their local funeral homes for the arrangement of storage of remains or may choose to keep their loved ones’ remains at home.

For more information on how to contribute to the Columbarium expansion project, please visit our dedicated page for this effort. 

For guidance and options on current services and bookings, please contact
Joe Fagan ’89 and Chris Silva at memorialaffairs-group@usna.edu or visit
USNA  Cemetery Arrangements.