We Honor Our Military Veterans

Mt. Olivet is proud to be the final resting place for over 600 U.S. Military Veterans who honorably served in The War of 1812, The Civil War, The Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Persian Gulf War and during peacetime.  We’re particularly proud that two of our veterans are Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, George Springer and John Kirk.  What makes Mt. Olivet unique from national military cemeteries is that our veterans lie in peace eternally with their family members.

Our Burial Search function on this website can help locate these military as well as thousands of other citizens resting in peace.

Kirk headstone

Wreaths Across America

Mt. Olivet is proud to partner with Wreaths Across America, the well-known nonprofit organization, on their mission to honor and remember veterans with fresh balsam wreaths by their graves leading into every Christmas season.

We thank all who helped make this year a success by sponsoring wreaths for all 600 or our Veterans at peace in Mt. Olivet. For every wreath sponsored for Mt. Olivet, the cemetery receives five dollars which goes to help clean and restore veterans’ gravestones.

We thank all who joined us on Wreaths Across America Day at Mt. Olivet on December 13th to honor, remember, and lay wreaths at all Veterans’ gravesites. This includes Cedar Cliff High School JROTC Cadets; Pastor Arun Andrews of Trinity Church; Dawn Keefer, PA Senator; Marc Anderson, PA State Representative and USAF Veteran; Cindy Cruz, US Army Veteran; Joan Erney, NC Mayor; Jamie Bream, Taps bugler; the Cedar Cliff Wrestling Team; Scout Troops from New Cumberland, Camp Hill, and Enola; and, of course, Veterans and Families and Friends of Mt. Olivet.

You can learn more about Wreaths Across America at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and go to our Mt. Olivet page at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/PA0950P.

Hope you join us next year to again thank and warm our Veterans’ gravesites for the Christmas Season.

Veterans Memorial Event - May 21, 2026

Our annual salute to over 500 Military Veterans lying-in-peace at Mt. Olivet will be held Thursday, May 21, from 12noon to 2pm.

Join Veterans’ Families, American Legion and VFW members, Cedar Cliff JROTC Cadets and Wrestling Team, Scouts, and community leaders to give thanks, place small US flags on individual gravesites for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend and salute our soldiers as a bright new US Flag is raised at the Memorial Flagpole and “Taps” echoes throughout the cemetery.

Click here for more information and to RSVP, or you can RSVP by emailing us or calling the office. Registration is requested but not required.

We thank WGAL for telling our story this past May…
https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-mount-olivet-cemetary-flags-placed-jrotc-honoring-veterans/64865704

And thanks to PennLive.com for capturing images…

https://www.pennlive.com/life/2025/05/honoring-the-fallen-memorial-day-2025-events-in-central-pa.html

Salute at graves on Memorial Day
Cadets participate in the Memorial Veterans Salute

Veterans Gravestone Cleaning Workshops

Veterans Gravestone Cleaning Workshops, led by Elaine Brinley, are held for those who want to give back to veterans and learn how to safely and effectively clean memorials using the same materials and methods used at Arlington National Cemetery. Thanks to volunteers in the workshops and those working on their own, more than 240 gravestones of veterans and their families have been cleaned over the past three years.

If you’re interested in volunteering on your own or want to schedule a private session with a group you belong to, please email us or call the cemetery at the address and number on the bottom of this page. Workshops will be scheduled based on interest and we’ll get back to you with details.

You can view a video of the cleaning process in the video below. In that section you can also donate to help fund more cleaning.

Volunteer gravestone cleaning crew working at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Veteran Gravestone Restoration Contribution Request

More than 240 gravestones of veterans and their families have been cleaned and restored thanks to volunteers, led by Elaine Brinley. We thank TE Connectivity and the many others who support their efforts. You can help support the cause by donating towards the purchase of special (and expensive) cleaning solvents (the same used at Arlington National Cemetery). As thanks for donations of $100 or more, volunteers will clean your family gravestone.

Please send donations to:
Mt. Olivet Veteran Cemetery Beautification Fund/Veteran Gravestone Restoration
PO Box 192
New Cumberland, PA 17070

Or donate online via PayPal!

Gravestone before and after restoration