TracGunny
11-15-03, 08:55 PM
Last modified Fri., November 14, 2003 - 01:23 AM
Originally created Friday, November 14, 2003
President approves cemetery creation
Nearest current available burial site is about three hours away from Jacksonville.
From Times-Union staff
President Bush signed a bill Tuesday creating a veterans cemetery in the Jacksonville, FL area.
The bill directs the secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish six new national cemeteries within four years, including two in Florida.
The VA can now begin to solicit the advice of state and local veterans organizations and other individuals in determining specific sites for the new cemeteries.
Jacksonville has tentatively proposed a site north of Jacksonville International Airport off I-95.
"More than 100,000 veterans live and work in the counties I represent," said U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla. "There are currently no viable options for burial in a veterans cemetery for these honorable citizens."
U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., agreed.
"Florida has the nation's second largest veterans population and the oldest population," Stearns said. "Yet the closest open VA cemetery is a three-hour drive. With some 325,000 veterans calling northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia home, this cemetery is essential."
The VA is required to submit a report to Congress within 120 days setting forth the areas where the cemeteries will be established, a schedule for establishment and the estimated costs.
Florida has almost 2 million veterans and only four veterans cemeteries. One cemetery is full, another only accepts cremated remains, and the final two are at least a three-hour drive from Jacksonville.
The second new cemetery in Florida will be in the Orlando area.
Originally created Friday, November 14, 2003
President approves cemetery creation
Nearest current available burial site is about three hours away from Jacksonville.
From Times-Union staff
President Bush signed a bill Tuesday creating a veterans cemetery in the Jacksonville, FL area.
The bill directs the secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish six new national cemeteries within four years, including two in Florida.
The VA can now begin to solicit the advice of state and local veterans organizations and other individuals in determining specific sites for the new cemeteries.
Jacksonville has tentatively proposed a site north of Jacksonville International Airport off I-95.
"More than 100,000 veterans live and work in the counties I represent," said U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla. "There are currently no viable options for burial in a veterans cemetery for these honorable citizens."
U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., agreed.
"Florida has the nation's second largest veterans population and the oldest population," Stearns said. "Yet the closest open VA cemetery is a three-hour drive. With some 325,000 veterans calling northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia home, this cemetery is essential."
The VA is required to submit a report to Congress within 120 days setting forth the areas where the cemeteries will be established, a schedule for establishment and the estimated costs.
Florida has almost 2 million veterans and only four veterans cemeteries. One cemetery is full, another only accepts cremated remains, and the final two are at least a three-hour drive from Jacksonville.
The second new cemetery in Florida will be in the Orlando area.