VA held a dedication ceremony today in Papillion, Nebraska, for the new Omaha National Cemetery.
“In Omaha, we dedicate a new place in their honor: a place that reflects our gratitude, our love, and our devotion…” said VA Secretary Bob McDonald. “…a place where successive generations of Veterans—separated by time—are reunited in veneration.”
Sec. Bob McDonald and Rep. Jeff Miller at the dedication of the Omaha National Cemetery.
McDonald provided the keynote address and was joined by Interim Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ronald E. Walters, Omaha National Cemetery Director Cindy Van Bibber and elected officials as the dedication plaque was unveiled. Military honors included a firing detail by the Nebraska Army National Guard. Music and National Anthem was provided by United States Air Force Heartland of America Band, followed by a flyover of a RC-135 Rivet Joint flown by the 55th Wing, 338th Combat Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base.
The new 236-acre cemetery will serve the burial needs of more than 112,000 Veterans in the cemetery’s service area.
The VA purchased the land for the cemetery in December 2012 for $6 million. The property is located along South 144th St. (Highway 50), at 14250 Schram Road in Sarpy County. The cemetery will serve Veterans, spouses, and eligible family members in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa not currently served with an open national, state or tribal Veterans cemetery within 75 miles of their residence. The closest national cemetery is Leavenworth National Cemetery located in Leavenworth, Kansas, approximately 180 miles away.
VA awarded the architect and engineering contract to Vireo Planning & Design of Omaha, and the construction contract to Archer Western Construction. Plans for the initial phase of the cemetery will develop approximately 35 acres of land that will include pre-placed crypts, columbarium niches, in-ground niches, a scattering garden, administration building and other supporting infrastructure elements. The cemetery’s first phase will provide for approximately 10 years of burials.
Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces and Veterans who have met minimum active duty service requirements and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty, while on training duty, or were eligible for retired pay, or were called to active duty and served the full term of service, may also be eligible for burial.
Their spouse, widow or widower, minor children and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities, may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the Veteran.
The Omaha National Cemetery was dedication on August 5.
VA provides the gravesite, grave liner, opening and closing of the grave, government headstone or marker, U.S. burial flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate and perpetual care of the gravesite at no cost to the family.
VA operates 135 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 40 states and Puerto Rico. More than four million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA’s national cemeteries. VA also provides funding to establish, expand, improve, and maintain 100 Veterans cemeteries in 47 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan. For Veterans not buried in a VA national cemetery, VA provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate their service. In 2015, VA honored more than 353,000 Veterans and their loved ones with memorial benefits in national, state, tribal and private cemeteries.
Information on VA burial benefits is available from local VA national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov, or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000. To make burial arrangements at any open VA national cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.
About the author: This article was submitted by the National Cemetery Administration.
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True in that statement and with ptsd numness in legs and arm proint man in 1966 They take years to take care i believe They are waiting for you to die
3pgs
True in that statement same with ptsd numbness proint man in 1966 cannot get the help i need now
JASMUSGRAY
My brother in law will soon need a cemetery. Forced to wait 2 years to remove a massive tumor. Doctor commented on the delay as he announced his surgery took his kidney and told him the tumor was size of newborn baby.
You can pretend that the VA cares, but you don’t. My family sees a great Vietnam vet suffer daily. He is losing his life because of your failure to help him in a timely manner.
I have recently been diagnosed with Jak2 polycythemia vera, a very rare blood disorder. I feel this disorder is directly related to exposure to agent orang in Vietnam. My service records show that I was exposed to agent orange.
I just found out that this disease is not on the list approved by congress that makes you eligible to draw compensation for agent orange exposure. And that if/when Jak2 PV EVER makes the list it would then take congress a minimum of 5 years to approve it.
Its time for our congress to “do the right thing” and acknowledge that exposure to agent orange causes many health problems Secretary McDonald. And that these conditions, issues and diseases were caused from and by our being directly and indirectly exposed to this pesticed. When our government called us to arms…WE ANSWERED THAT CALL. NOW ITS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO ANSWER OUR CALLS. Just quit making excuses and do the right thing!