Federal dollars secured for vets cemetery

The federal government on Tuesday announced that a $7.2 million grant had been secured for a cemetery that will be located at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Jennings.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said in a statement that he was grateful for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration’s announcement of the $7,282,460 federal grant.

“Southwest Louisiana will finally see the construction of a veterans cemetery thanks to this grant,” said Cassidy. “Right now, the only option for veterans is the cemetery in Leesville, more than 80 miles away. I’m glad Louisiana families will finally have a place closer to home where we can honor these American heroes.”

The grant will fund the construction of a main entrance, an administration building, a maintenance facility, roads, an assembly area, a committal shelter, 1,212 pre-placed crypts, 185 cremains gravesites, 380 columbarium niches, memorial walk, landscaping and supporting infrastructure. The project will develop approximately 12.6 acres and serve approximately 37,600 Louisiana veterans and their eligible family members. Spouses and minor children, or adult children in some circumstances, could be buried next to their veteran.

The cemetery will be located on 20 acres of land on the northern side of the Southwest Louisiana Veterans home and be adjacent to the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10. Each acre should be able to accommodate 700 plots. Once the cemetery is completed, each area of the state will have a veterans home and veterans cemetery.

“Right now, the only option for veterans is the cemetery in Leesville, more than 80 miles away. I’m glad Louisiana families will finally have a place closer to home where we can honor these American heroes.”
– U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D.