Laurel Land Memorial Park

As you stand at the entrance of Laurel Land Memorial Park, you might be surprised to learn that this tranquil cemetery is home to the final resting place of a Dallas Police Officer, J.D. Tippit, who was shot and killed just hours after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It’s a chilling reminder of a pivotal day in American history. Laurel Land Memorial Park is located at 6000 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, a short distance south of downtown Dallas. Established in the early 1940s, it is the largest and most recently opened cemetery in Dallas. J.D. Tippit is buried in an area of the park originally designated as the “Memorial Court of Honor,” a section reserved for those who had given their lives in special service to the community. He was the first person to be buried in this hallowed plot. Tippit’s grave is near the north fenceline and just west of the Marsalis Street entrance. You will find his grave near a large tree in the Memorial Court of Honor. A quick glance at the map will show you how close his grave is to the city’s busy highway network. It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly fate can change. When you visit Laurel Land Memorial Park, you will find yourself surrounded by the quiet dignity of the past alongside the constant movement of life just beyond its gates. Even amidst the quiet of the cemetery, the very air seems to thrum with the energy of Dallas. Standing amongst the headstones, you can almost hear the city’s heartbeat echoing through the trees.