“This award, like an increasing number of grants for state veterans’ cemeteries, recognizes the contribution of America’s aging veterans,” said Principi. “I appreciate President Bush’s leadership in supporting state veterans’ cemeteries.”
The 25-acre cemetery will have an entry gate, assembly area, administration and maintenance building, committal service shelter and associated roads, grading and drainage. It will have approximately 9,200 burial spaces, including 3,680 full-casket crypts (pre-placed grave liners) and 1,000 columbarium niches 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 the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, approximately 115 miles southeast of Winchendon. The state opened a veterans cemetery at Agawam in 2001, also developed with a VA grant.
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. Seven 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 129 grants for more than $162 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 Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery at Winchendon is open to state residents. Details may be obtained by calling the Massachusetts State Veterans Cemetery in Agawam at (413) 821-9500.
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
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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