WASHINGTON – A 569-acre property owned by the City of Jacksonville, Fla., will become the site of a national cemetery to serve the burial needs of north Florida’s veterans for 30 years or more. The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) selection of the site and intent to purchase the property.
“Northeastern Florida is one of VA’s priorities for providing a national cemetery for veterans," said Nicholson. “Establishing this national shrine will ensure that thousands of men and women who have worn the uniforms of the U.S. armed forces have a place that honors their military service.”
VA originally considered 14 sites and completed environmental assessments for four of them last spring. The Secretary made his decision after considering the viability of each site. The Jacksonville property is pasture land available for sale from the city and is north of the airport on Lannie Road.
Funds for purchase of the land have been appropriated by Congress. Additional funding will be required for design and construction in future years. If the land is purchased in the next few months and design begins next year, VA could start burials by early 2009.
The National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003 directed VA to build six new national cemeteries in selected areas with large veteran populations. Approximately 185,000 veterans live within 75 miles of Jacksonville.
Veterans whose discharges are other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children may be buried in a national cemetery, regardless of where they live. No advance reservations are made. Other burial benefits for eligible veterans include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker – even if they are not buried in a national cemetery.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from a VA Web site at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.
