WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs‘ National Cemetery Administration has awarded $44.5 million in grants aimed at expanding and improving state veterans’ cemeteries. This financial investment for fiscal year 2024 underscores the VA’s dedication to providing accessible and dignified burial services to those who have served.
The grants are set to benefit cemeteries in California, Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington. These enhancements will ensure that veterans interred in these state-run cemeteries receive the same comprehensive burial and memorial benefits as those in VA national cemeteries, at no cost to their families. This includes a gravesite, perpetual care, and a host of memorial services such as a government-issued headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, “It is our duty to ensure America’s Veterans are honored for their service as they are laid to rest.” By collaborating with states, tribes, and territories, the VA aims to provide burial options closer to veterans’ families, thereby enhancing accessibility and convenience.
Since its establishment in 1978, the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program has been pivotal in supporting the development and enhancement of state, territorial, and tribal veterans’ cemeteries. To date, it has allocated over 504 grants, totaling more than $1 billion, facilitating more than 800,000 interments. During FY 2024, these cemeteries, along with VA national cemeteries, conducted nearly 185,000 interments combined.
The VA’s sustained efforts have resulted in 94% of the U.S. veteran population having access to a burial option within 75 miles of their residence, either in a VA national cemetery or a state veterans’ cemetery funded through these grants. This commitment to proximity ensures that the final resting places of veterans are within reach for their loved ones, maintaining the honor and respect they deserve.
This latest funding initiative not only reinforces the VA’s mission to provide dignified burial services but also strengthens its partnerships with state and local entities, ensuring that the legacy of service and sacrifice by the nation’s veterans is preserved and honored.
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