WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi today announced the award of an $817,000 grant to the state of Nevada for expansion and improvements at the Northern Nevada Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Fernley. This grant will provide nearly 2,000 pre-placed graveliners, or crypts, that will be installed in a later phase of the cemetery's construction.
"This award, and an increasing number like it for state veterans' cemeteries, recognize the contribution of America's aging veterans," said Principi. "I appreciate President Bush's leadership in supporting a 28-percent boost in next year's VA budget for state veterans' cemeteries."
Established in 1990, the 43-acre cemetery is located about 32 miles east of Reno. The nearest VA national cemetery is San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, approximately 250 miles west in California. The Nevada state cemetery provided 374 interments to veterans and family members last fiscal year. The state received two earlier VA grants totaling $685,000 to establish and improve the cemetery.
As a complement to VA’s system of national cemeteries, the state cemetery grants program has helped establish, expand or improve 48 operational state veterans cemeteries. Three additional cemeteries are under construction. The state veterans cemeteries provided 15,409 burials in fiscal year 2001. Since the program began in 1980, VA has awarded 114 grants for more than $119 million to 28 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 Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery is based on the same criteria as burial in a VA national cemetery, regardless of the state of residence. More details may be obtained by calling the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery at (775) 575-4441.
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.
