HONOLULU – To ensure Hawaii veterans continue to have a final resting place that honors their service to the nation, a senior official of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced the award of a $743,035 grant to expand the WestHawaiiVeteransCemetery in Kona.
“With the expansion of this state veterans cemetery, VA ensures that memorial benefits for Hawaii veterans will be available for many more years,” said William F. Tuerk, VA’s under secretary for memorial affairs. “We are proud to partner with the state of Hawaii to honor our commitment to our nation’s veterans.”
Tuerk was joined by Sen. Daniel Inouye, Sen. Daniel Akaka and representatives of Gov. Linda Lingle in making the announcement today in Honolulu.
The grant will pay for the initial development of a new burial section, including 306 full-casket burial sites, an automated irrigation system and sod. Full development will include a committal service shelter, an assembly area, an in-ground cremation burial section, a restroom facility, a service yard with a covered storage area, supporting roads, walkways and infrastructure.
Hawaii has seven other VA-funded state cemeteries: HawaiiStateVeteransCemetery in Kaneohe; EastHawaiiVeteransCemetery I and Cemetery II in Hilo; KauaiVeteransCemetery in Hanapepe; MauiVeteransCemetery in Makawao; MolokaiVeteransCemetery in Hoolehua; and LanaiVeteransCemetery in LanaiCity.
VA’s State Cemetery Grants Program complements VA’s 125 national cemeteries across the country. The program helps states establish, expand or improve state veterans cemeteries. To date, the VA program has helped establish 66 veterans cemeteries in 34 states, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, which provided more than 22,000 burials in fiscal year 2006. Since the program began in 1980, VA has awarded 157 grants totaling over $287 million.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from VA’s national cemetery offices, from the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Hawaii’s state veterans cemeteries can be obtained from the Hawaii Office of Veterans Service by calling 808-433-0420.
