{"id":114342,"date":"2023-09-21T11:00:25","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T15:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/?p=114342"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:32:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:32:16","slug":"67-uss-bennington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/67-uss-bennington\/","title":{"rendered":"Object 67: USS Bennington Monument And Grave Plot"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-image114342_e779cb-8d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:626px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_e779cb-8d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image114342_e779cb-8d figure{max-width:626px;}.kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .image-is-svg, .kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image114342_e779cb-8d img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image114342_e779cb-8d img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image114342_e779cb-8d img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_e779cb-8d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image114342_e779cb-8d\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1889\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,1033\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,1033\" alt=\"Ceremony dedicating the Bennington monument at Fort Rosecrans, overlooking San Diego harbor, January 7, 1908. The cruiser USS Charleston is visible in the background right. More than 2,500 people attended the dedication. (NHHC)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-114345\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271889%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201889%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271889%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg?resize=300,221 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg?resize=600,443 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg?resize=768,567 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,1033 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg?resize=1536,1133 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Ceremony-scaled.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Ceremony dedicating the Bennington monument at Fort Rosecrans, overlooking San Diego harbor, January 7, 1908. The cruiser USS Charleston is visible in the background right. More than 2,500 people attended the dedication. (Naval Heritage and History Command)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A somber procession of eight horse-drawn dray wagons left the central plaza of downtown San Diego at precisely noon on July 23, 1905. Typically loaded with heavy trade goods, these drays collectively carried 49 pine coffins holding the remains of sailors killed two days prior in the boiler explosion of the steel-hulled gunboat USS <em>Bennington<a>. <\/a><\/em>On each wagon, the wreath-adorned coffins were stacked three high and draped with an American flag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The grim, half-mile-long procession travelled without pomp or ceremony, per the <em>Bennington<\/em> commander\u2019s request, on a jostling ten-mile dirt road leading around San Diego Bay and upward to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cem.va.gov\/cems\/nchp\/ftrosecrans.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">Fort Rosecrans<\/a> post cemetery overlooking the city from the eastern bank of Point Loma. As the cortege slowly moved up the steep road, shrouded in thick dust, it gained hundreds of followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After hours of hard going, the wagons reached their destination. Fifty-two of the surviving <em>Bennington<\/em> crew, ferried across the bay on boats, awaited their fallen shipmates. Each wagon was unloaded by <em>Bennington<\/em> sailors and the coffins placed head-to-head in a long parallel row within a large, freshly dug trench. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the coffins were placed and inspected, it was determined that two had been claimed by families for shipment home and had to be sent back to the city morgues. The exhausted onlookers, not permitted into the cemetery, watched from afar along the cemetery\u2019s whitewashed fence. Once the 47 coffins were in place, Episcopalian and Catholic burial rites were performed over them. The <em>Bennington<\/em>\u2019s captain, Commander Lucien Young, then stepped out from the crowd to the lip of the trench and entrusted the remains of his crew to the fort\u2019s commander with the hope that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">their graves never be forgotten by the hand of affection. May there rise above this, their last resting place, marble slabs to mark the place as sacred to the nation\u2019s care, and may the morning sun ever kiss the green sod above their dust, emblematic of our love and affection.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, <em>Taps<\/em> played, three rifle volleys resounded, flowers were placed upon the coffins, and events concluded by 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image114342_5f7966-37.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:553px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_5f7966-37.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image114342_5f7966-37 figure{max-width:553px;}.kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .image-is-svg, .kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image114342_5f7966-37 img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #1a1819;border-right:1px solid #1a1819;border-bottom:1px solid #1a1819;border-left:1px solid #1a1819;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image114342_5f7966-37 img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #1a1819;border-right:1px solid #1a1819;border-bottom:1px solid #1a1819;border-left:1px solid #1a1819;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image114342_5f7966-37 img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_5f7966-37 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #1a1819;border-right:1px solid #1a1819;border-bottom:1px solid #1a1819;border-left:1px solid #1a1819;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image114342_5f7966-37\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1608\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,879\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,879\" alt=\"Funeral procession on July 23, 1905, at San Diego, California. The explosion aboard USS Bennington killed one-third of the crew. (NHHC)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-114343\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271608%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201608%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271608%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg?resize=300,188 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg?resize=600,377 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg?resize=768,482 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,879 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg?resize=1536,965 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Procession-scaled.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Funeral procession on July 23, 1905, at San Diego, California. The explosion aboard USS Bennington killed one-third of the crew. (NHHC)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Bennington<\/em> explosion, heroic exploits of the crew, and the subsequent Navy investigation captured national attention. It was among the deadliest peacetime accidents in U.S. Navy history and claimed more lives than the Navy had lost in the nation\u2019s most recent conflict, the Spanish-American War. Planning for a monument began immediately after the accident; in fact, the idea for a monument was born as naval officers returned across the bay aboard their launches following the funeral. Because <em>Bennington<\/em> belonged to the Navy\u2019s Pacific Squadron, its leaders took the initiative and formed an association with the hope that each sailor in the squadron would donate up to $5 for a monument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concurrently, a separate <em>Bennington <\/em>Memorial Association was formed primarily by members of the San Diego community. This public group envisioned memorializing the lost crew with a recreational center for sailors in the city center, but sufficient funds never materialized. Some of the money they raised for a <em>Bennington<\/em> monument was offered to the Navy\u2019s own efforts, but these funds were declined. In the words of Admiral Caspar Goodrich, Pacific Squadron commander, \u201cit was our own tribute to our own comrades, we held it with a jealousy which can only be understood by those who have, themselves been called upon to make the greater sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image114342_9d1933-ff.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:735px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_9d1933-ff.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image114342_9d1933-ff figure{max-width:735px;}.kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .image-is-svg, .kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image114342_9d1933-ff img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #1a1819;border-right:1px solid #1a1819;border-bottom:1px solid #1a1819;border-left:1px solid #1a1819;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image114342_9d1933-ff img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #1a1819;border-right:1px solid #1a1819;border-bottom:1px solid #1a1819;border-left:1px solid #1a1819;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image114342_9d1933-ff img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_9d1933-ff .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #1a1819;border-right:1px solid #1a1819;border-bottom:1px solid #1a1819;border-left:1px solid #1a1819;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image114342_9d1933-ff\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1637\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,895\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,895\" alt=\"Catholic rites given over remains prior to burial at the Fort Rosecrans post cemetery. (NHHC)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-114346\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271637%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201637%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271637%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg?resize=300,192 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg?resize=600,384 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg?resize=768,491 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg?resize=1400,895 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg?resize=1536,982 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Funeral-rites-scaled.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Catholic rites given over remains prior to burial at the Fort Rosecrans post cemetery. (NHHC)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pacific Squadron quickly raised the $5,500 needed for a monument. The design chosen was a simple obelisk made of roughhewn San Diego granite and capped with a polished granite pyramid. It was intended to make \u201cno pretense to elaboration or . . . ornamentation for it merely commemorates the heroism of simple men whose sole guiding motive was devotion to duty.\u201d Two polished panels were inscribed on the front and back of the monument. The north front face reads: &nbsp;\u201cErected by the Officers and Men of the Pacific Squadron in memory of those who lost their life in the performance of duty.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other side states: \u201cTo the Bennington\u2019s dead July 21, 1905.\u201d The monument was placed at the plot of the <em>Bennington<\/em> dead in the Fort Rosecrans post cemetery. The section contained only 35 graves by the monument\u2019s January 7, 1908, dedication because the families of 12 other sailors had requested the return of their remains after the initial burial. The public <em>Bennington <\/em>Memorial Association funded a matching granite coping to enclose the burial plot. An estimated 2,500 attendees turned up for the monument\u2019s dedication.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-image.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20:not(.kb-specificity-added):not(.kb-extra-specificity-added) > figure{margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xl, 4rem);}.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:297px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_abe4a7-20.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 figure{max-width:297px;}.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .image-is-svg, .kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 img.kb-img, .kb-image114342_abe4a7-20 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image114342_abe4a7-20\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=1050,1400\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=1050,1400\" alt=\"Bennington monument and plot where 35 crew members are buried. Photo is from 2022. (NCA)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-114344\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271920%27%20height%3D%272560%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201920%202560%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271920%27%20height%3D%272560%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=450,600 450w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=768,1024 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=1050,1400 1050w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=1152,1536 1152w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg?resize=1536,2048 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/067o-Bennington-today-scaled.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Bennington monument and plot where 35 crew members are buried. Photo is from 2022. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1934, the once remote Fort Rosecrans post cemetery was designated a national cemetery. Over the next 30 years, it increased in size from 8 to 70 acres to accommodate the growing demand for Veteran burial spaces spurred by the two world wars. The tall <em>Bennington<\/em> monument is still one of the most recognizable features of the cemetery, although tree growth makes it almost invisible from the military hub of Coronado below. Between April and November 2010, both the monument and burial enclosure underwent substantive repair and preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One officer and 65 sailors, one-third of the ship\u2019s company, lost their lives in the explosion. Eleven crew members received the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/100-objects\/object-60-medal-of-honor-va\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"113960\">Medal of Honor<\/a> for their efforts in the aftermath of the explosion. Four of those men are buried in national cemeteries, including Boatswain\u2019s Mate William Cronan, who rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans in 1959.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On July 21, 1905, one of the USS Bennington&#8217;s boilers exploded, killing 49 sailors. Almost immediately after the accident, surviving crew and fellow sailors donated funds to build a monument at the grave site for their fallen comrades. This burial ground would later become Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117371,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[116,10,20,125,110],"class_list":["post-114342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-100-objects","tag-monuments","tag-national-cemetery","tag-national-cemetery-administration","tag-national-cemetery-system","tag-spanish-american-war"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/67-uss-bennington\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Object 67: USS Bennington Monument And Grave Plot","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/67-uss-bennington\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/67-uss-bennington\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-103028.webp?w=300","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-103028.webp"},"articleSection":"History of VA in 100 Objects","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"}],"creator":["Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA History","logo":""},"keywords":["monuments","national cemetery","national cemetery administration","national cemetery system","spanish-american war"],"dateCreated":"2023-09-21T15:00:25Z","datePublished":"2023-09-21T15:00:25Z","dateModified":"2026-03-04T18:32:16Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Object 67: USS Bennington Monument And Grave Plot\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/67-uss-bennington\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/67-uss-bennington\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-103028.webp?w=300\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-103028.webp\"},\"articleSection\":\"History of VA in 100 Objects\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)\"}],\"creator\":[\"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"VA History\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"monuments\",\"national cemetery\",\"national cemetery administration\",\"national cemetery system\",\"spanish-american war\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2023-09-21T15:00:25Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-21T15:00:25Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-04T18:32:16Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/department.va.gov\/p.js"},"meta_box":{"external_links":"0","endorsement":"0","subheading":"","featured_image_alt_text":"Ceremony dedicating the Bennington monument at Fort Rosecrans, overlooking San Diego harbor, January 7, 1908. The cruiser USS Charleston is visible in the background right. More than 2,500 people attended the dedication. (NHHC)","byline":"Richard Hulver, PhD, Historian, National Cemetery Administration","author_title":"Historian, National Cemetery Administration","external_source":"","external_source_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114342"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116117,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114342\/revisions\/116117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}