CAS3
09-30-04, 11:20 AM
VA Approves Grant to Build Northern California Veterans Cemetery
WASHINGTON (Sept. 29, 2004) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has
awarded $8.5 million to the state of California to establish the Northern
California Veterans Cemetery near Redding in Shasta County.
"This award, and an increasing number like it for state veterans cemeteries,
recognize the contributions of America's aging veterans," said Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "I appreciate President Bush's
leadership in supporting state veterans cemeteries."
Approximately 49,000 Northern California veterans, along with their
dependents, are not now served by a national or state veterans cemetery.
The new cemetery site is about 170 miles south of the nearest national
cemetery, Eagle Point National Cemetery, in Oregon.
Plans call for the development of 21.5 acres on the 63-acre site, and will
include an administration building, maintenance building, committal shelter,
assembly area, columbarium for cremated remains and public information
center. Development will provide a total of 8,523 burial sites, which
includes 2,085 traditional in-ground gravesites, 2,032 pre-placed
graveliners or crypts, 3,206 in-ground cremation sites and 1,200 columbarium
niches.
As a complement to VA's system of national cemeteries, the State Cemetery
Grants Program has helped establish, expand or improve 55 operational state
veterans cemeteries. States are responsible for operating their veterans
cemeteries after VA assists with construction. State veterans cemeteries
provided more than 18,000 burials in fiscal year 2003. Since the program
began in 1980, VA has awarded 136 grants for more than $200 million to 30
states and Guam.
Information about the grants program is available by contacting VA's State
Cemetery Grants Service at (202) 565-6801. Eligibility for burial in the
Northern California Veterans Cemetery is based on the same criteria as
burial in a VA national cemetery. More information about the cemetery is
available from the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans
Services Division, on the Internet at http://www.cdva.ca.gov or by calling
1-916-653-2573.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery
offices or VA Web sites on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov/, or by
calling VA regional offices toll-free on 1-800-827-1000.
WASHINGTON (Sept. 29, 2004) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has
awarded $8.5 million to the state of California to establish the Northern
California Veterans Cemetery near Redding in Shasta County.
"This award, and an increasing number like it for state veterans cemeteries,
recognize the contributions of America's aging veterans," said Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "I appreciate President Bush's
leadership in supporting state veterans cemeteries."
Approximately 49,000 Northern California veterans, along with their
dependents, are not now served by a national or state veterans cemetery.
The new cemetery site is about 170 miles south of the nearest national
cemetery, Eagle Point National Cemetery, in Oregon.
Plans call for the development of 21.5 acres on the 63-acre site, and will
include an administration building, maintenance building, committal shelter,
assembly area, columbarium for cremated remains and public information
center. Development will provide a total of 8,523 burial sites, which
includes 2,085 traditional in-ground gravesites, 2,032 pre-placed
graveliners or crypts, 3,206 in-ground cremation sites and 1,200 columbarium
niches.
As a complement to VA's system of national cemeteries, the State Cemetery
Grants Program has helped establish, expand or improve 55 operational state
veterans cemeteries. States are responsible for operating their veterans
cemeteries after VA assists with construction. State veterans cemeteries
provided more than 18,000 burials in fiscal year 2003. Since the program
began in 1980, VA has awarded 136 grants for more than $200 million to 30
states and Guam.
Information about the grants program is available by contacting VA's State
Cemetery Grants Service at (202) 565-6801. Eligibility for burial in the
Northern California Veterans Cemetery is based on the same criteria as
burial in a VA national cemetery. More information about the cemetery is
available from the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans
Services Division, on the Internet at http://www.cdva.ca.gov or by calling
1-916-653-2573.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery
offices or VA Web sites on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov/, or by
calling VA regional offices toll-free on 1-800-827-1000.