WASHINGTON, DC -- One of the last steps toward creating a national veterans cemetery in Georgia was taken today when Dallas Hudgens, son of Atlanta developer Scott Hudgens, presented a property deed for 775 acres to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi at a ceremony held on Capitol Hill.
Scott Hudgens, a World War II veteran who was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Atlanta, offered to donate the property before his death in October. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accepted the offer following a review of 12 other sites and an environmental assessment of the land.
In accepting the deed, Principi called it "a generous donation" that was a tribute to the entire Hudgens family. "All Americans are indebted to you for your kindness and generosity," he said.
By acquiring the land by donation rather than purchase, Principi said America's taxpayers have been saved millions of dollars and Georgia's veterans have had years reduced from the normal timetable to create a new cemetery.
The event was held in the Capitol Hill office of Sen. Max Cleland, with other members of the Georgia congressional delegation attending.
Congress has approved $2.5 million this year to permit master planning and design of the facility. Construction begins in about two years.
The site, about 35 miles from Atlanta, was selected over 11 others VA examined. It will serve approximately 400,000 veterans living within 75 miles. The property is between Canton and Sutallee, near the Etowah River. It offers views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north and Lake Allatoona to the south.
VA is still trying to acquire land to build national cemeteries during the next five years near Detroit, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Calif., and Miami/Palm Beach County. The department's goal is to increase the percentage of veterans served by a national or state veterans cemetery within 75 miles of their homes to 88 percent by 2006. Currently, more than 75 percent of veterans live within that distance.
In the Atlanta area, the Marietta National Cemetery in Cobb County stopped accepting casket burials in 1970 and cremation burials in 1997.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from VA's national cemetery offices, by calling VA regional offices toll-free on 1-800-827-1000, or from VA web sites on the Internet at or <http://www.va.gov/> or <http://www.cem.va.gov/>
