CAS3
02-02-04, 10:52 AM
VA To Gain Six New Cemeteries
WASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2004) - With a recent authorization to establish six
new national cemeteries by 2008, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
begun the largest expansion of these national shrines since the Civil War.
"Under President Bush's leadership, VA is on the path to meet the burial
needs of America's aging veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Anthony J. Principi. "VA will continue to provide America's veterans with a
dignified and respectful final resting place, now and in the future."
The National Cemetery Act of 2003 authorizes VA to establish new national
cemeteries to serve veterans in the areas of Bakersfield, Calif.;
Birmingham, Ala.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Sarasota County, Fla.; southeastern
Pennsylvania; and Columbia-Greenville, S.C. All six areas have veteran
populations exceeding 170,000, which is the threshold VA has established for
new national cemeteries.
Each new cemetery will require 200 to 250 acres to serve the current and
future burial needs of veterans. Development of these new national
cemeteries will provide more veterans with a burial site within 75 miles of
their residences.
VA manages the country's network of national cemeteries with more than 2.5
million gravesites at 120 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico,
as well as in 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery
offices or from VA Web sites on the Internet at http://www.va.gov or
http://www.cem.va.gov.
WASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2004) - With a recent authorization to establish six
new national cemeteries by 2008, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
begun the largest expansion of these national shrines since the Civil War.
"Under President Bush's leadership, VA is on the path to meet the burial
needs of America's aging veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Anthony J. Principi. "VA will continue to provide America's veterans with a
dignified and respectful final resting place, now and in the future."
The National Cemetery Act of 2003 authorizes VA to establish new national
cemeteries to serve veterans in the areas of Bakersfield, Calif.;
Birmingham, Ala.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Sarasota County, Fla.; southeastern
Pennsylvania; and Columbia-Greenville, S.C. All six areas have veteran
populations exceeding 170,000, which is the threshold VA has established for
new national cemeteries.
Each new cemetery will require 200 to 250 acres to serve the current and
future burial needs of veterans. Development of these new national
cemeteries will provide more veterans with a burial site within 75 miles of
their residences.
VA manages the country's network of national cemeteries with more than 2.5
million gravesites at 120 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico,
as well as in 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery
offices or from VA Web sites on the Internet at http://www.va.gov or
http://www.cem.va.gov.