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Virginia Capitol Connections, Spring 2017
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Three years after the Civil War ended,
on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization
of Union veterans—the Grand Army of the
Republic (GAR)—established Decoration
Day as a time for the nation to decorate
the graves of the war dead with flowers.
Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that
Decoration Day should be observed on
May 30. It is believed that date was chosen
because flowers would be in bloom all over
the country.
Holding true to the embodiment of
Memorial Day, theVirginia Department ofVeterans Services (VDVS)
works every day at its three state veterans cemeteries—located in
Amelia, Dublin, and Suffolk—to ensure that the final resting places
of its veterans, and eligible family members, are beautiful places
that honor those who have served our nation by providing a sense of
beauty and peace.
Virginia’s first state veterans cemetery, the Virginia Veterans
Cemetery in Amelia, opened in 1997. The Albert G. Horton, Jr.
Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk and the Southwest Virginia
Veterans Cemetery in Dublin openings followed thereafter in 2004
and 2011. Great care was taken in determining the sites for each
cemetery to ensure that all regions of the Commonwealth could
provide convenient access to veterans and their families. These state
facilities are further complemented by the national cemeteries in
Arlington, Culpeper, and Quantico.
The number of veterans and families choosing a Virginia
state veterans cemetery as their final resting place has risen each
year for the past decade, and the cemeteries have been expanded
in phases to meet the memorial needs of the men and women
who have so faithfully served our country. Expansions occurred
at the Suffolk and Amelia cemeteries in 2014. Virginia’s latest
commitment to honoring its veterans in perpetuity is demonstrated
by construction underway at the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial
Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk. Five new columbarium buildings
for above ground cremation placements with a total capacity of
1,920 niche spaces and seven new cremation burial ground garden
Virginia Continues to Expand
its Capacity to Honor Veterans
with Final Resting Places that
Commemorate Their Service
and Sacrifice to our Nation
By Dan Kemano
sections are currently under construction. The new garden sections
will expand the capacity of the cemetery by an additional 1,260
spaces. Also, included in this project are supportive elements such
as a new asphalt access road, sidewalks and landscaping. Planning
is underway for future expansion projects at both the Suffolk and
Amelia cemeteries.
This expansion was made possible by the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Cemetery Grants Program, which provides
funds to establish, expand or improve veterans cemeteries that
are owned and operated by a state, federally recognized tribal
government, or U.S. territory.
Laying Virginia’s veterans and their eligible family members
to rest with dignity and honor, while treating their loved ones with
respect and compassion, is the foundation of the mission of the
cemeteries division of VDVS. I encourage all Virginian’s to visit
their veterans cemeteries and take part in this honored tradition of
remembrance on Memorial Day and every day.
To learn more about Virginia’s three veteran cemeteries visit
www.dvs.virginia.gov.
Dan Kemano retired from the US NAVY as a Command Master
Chief after serving 30 years on active duty. Mr. Kemano currently
serves as the Cemeteries Director for the Virginia Department of
Veterans Services.
BERNIE HENDERSON
President
Funeral Celebrant
Associate Since 2010
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