WASHINGTON — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi today announced the award of a $3.3-million grant to Kansas to establish the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at WaKeeney, in western Kansas.
“This award, and an increasing number like it for state veterans’ cemeteries, recognize the contribution of America’s aging veterans,” said Principi. “I appreciate President Bush’s leadership in supporting state veterans’ cemeteries.”
The 24-acre cemetery will have an entrance gate, assembly area, administration and maintenance building, committal shelter and associated road, grading and drainage work. In the first phase it will provide 2,600 burial spaces, including 500 double-depth crypts, or pre-placed graveliners, and a 320-niche columbarium for cremated remains. The grant will also pay for planning and design expenses and the equipment needed to operate the cemetery.
The nearest open VA national cemetery is Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Neb., approximately 165 miles away.
As a complement to VA’s system of national cemeteries, the State Cemetery Grants Program has helped establish, expand or improve 51 operational state veterans cemeteries. Six additional cemeteries are under construction. The state veterans cemeteries provided 17,177 burials in fiscal year 2002. Since the program began in 1980, VA has awarded 127 grants for more than $155 million to 30 states, plus 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 Kansas Veterans Cemetery will be open to state veterans on the same basis as eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. Details may be obtained by calling the Kansas Veterans Commission at (785) 296-3976.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from VA web sites on the Internet at http://www.va.gov or http://www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free on 1-800-827-1000.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
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