Established in 1911 the Lithuanian National Cemetery in Justice Illinois stands as a poignant testament to the Lithuanian-American community in Chicago. More than just a burial ground it is a living archive. It preserves the memory of thousands of immigrants who sought a new life across the ocean.
The cemetery’s origins are rooted in a need for a non-religious space. The existing Catholic cemetery St Casimir only accepted Catholics. Lithuanian intellectuals desired a more inclusive option. In 1911 21 Lithuanian societies banded together. They purchased 21 acres of land for $10000 a substantial sum at the time. This purchase was financed through bonds sold to Lithuanian organizations. These bonds paid a 3% interest and were redeemed by 1921.
The Lithuanian National Cemetery officially opened on May 30 1912 Memorial Day. The first burial was a symbolic act a two-year-old child reinterred from St Casimir Cemetery. The cemetery was blessed by Stasys Mickevičius founder of the Lithuanian National Catholic Church who is himself buried there. The cemetery’s policy remains inclusive open to all regardless of faith or political beliefs.
In 1934 the cemetery expanded adding 40 more acres. An Art Deco style office building and a columbarium for cremated remains were added in 1937. The cemetery is adorned with traditional Lithuanian symbols. Wayside shrines crosses folk sashes and the Lithuanian coat of arms grace many headstones. These symbols are particularly prominent on the graves of those who were forced to leave Lithuania under Soviet occupation.
Following Lithuania’s independence in 1990 some remains were repatriated. Today the Lithuanian National Cemetery remains a unique and vital part of Chicago’s landscape. It stands as the sole Lithuanian cemetery in the city. St Casimir Cemetery dropped the term Lithuanian from its name in 1997. It is a place where history lives on in the stories etched into stone and in the memory of those laid to rest within its grounds. The more than 13000 interments represent a vibrant piece of the Lithuanian diaspora’s enduring legacy. A visit to the Lithuanian National Cemetery is not merely a visit to a cemetery it is a journey through time a testament to resilience and a vibrant connection to a homeland far away.