WASHINGTON — Last September, VA’s National Cemetery Administration awarded $51.3 million in grants to Arizona, Arkansas, Nebraska, New York, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia for the establishment, expansion, and improvement of state Veterans cemeteries. These grants will help these states deliver timely and accessible burial and memorial services to Veterans.
Since beginning in 1978, the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program has provided more than 480 grants to 122 state, territorial, and Tribal Veterans cemeteries — leading to over 800,000 total interments for Veterans. In fiscal year 2022, these cemeteries and VA national cemeteries conducted nearly 200,000 interments combined.
Veterans interred in state, territorial, or Tribal Veterans cemeteries receive the same burial and memorial benefits provided to Veterans in VA national cemeteries, at no cost. This includes a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
“NCA’s Veterans Cemetery Grants Program is critical in our effort to provide burial options to Veterans and their families closer to where they live,” said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn. “These grants and the enduring partnerships they create with states, tribes, and territories recognize the sacrifices made by Veterans and our nation’s obligation to honor them for their service.”
The cemeteries receiving grants are:
$8,391,524 for the establishment of Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island. The cemetery will serve more than 13,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.
$15,902,647 for the establishment of West Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Lubbock. The cemetery will serve more than 21,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.
$6,484,476 for the expansion and improvement of Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi. The cemetery serves more than 42,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.