USS Maine dead reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery

Background. The USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, killing 268 sailors. Following the disaster, the recovered bodies were initially interred in the Colon Cemetery in Havana. The decision to move these remains to the United States reflected the desire to honor the victims in a national military cemetery, specifically Arlington National Cemetery, which serves as a primary burial ground for American service members.

Reinterment Process. In December 1899, the bodies originally buried in Havana were disinterred and transported to the United States for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. This action established the cemetery as the final resting place for the majority of the Maine crew. The reinterment was part of a broader effort to consolidate the remains of the sailors who died in the explosion, ensuring they were honored in a significant American military context.

Memorial Context. Arlington National Cemetery was established on 13 May 1864, during the American Civil War, and is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. A Maine Memorial exists at Arlington National Cemetery.