WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi today announced the award of a $218,484 grant to the state of Delaware to expand the columbarium at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sussex County. This grant will add 384 columbarium niches and complete the columbarium wall behind the cemetery’s assembly area.
"This award, and an increasing number like it for state veterans cemeteries, recognize the contribution of America's veterans," said Principi. "I appreciate President Bush's leadership in supporting a 28-percent increase in next year's VA budget for state veterans cemeteries."
The facility, established with the assistance of a VA grant in 1999, is adjacent to the state’s Stockley Center, just off State Route 113 about three miles north of Millsboro.
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. Seven 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 118 grants for more than $134 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 requirements for burial in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sussex County are the same as eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. Details may be obtained by calling the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery at (302) 934-5653.
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.
