More funding announced for second state veterans cemetery in Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it’s received more federal funding for a second Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
ADVA says it’s received an additional $5.4 million in federal dollars, bringing the total of federal grants to $18.9 million. The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. An additional $875,000 has been granted for a vault section at the cemetery.
The cemetery is planned for 150 acres near Maysville, which is near Huntsville. It would ultimately be able to provide 150,000 burial sites over its projected lifespan of 200 years.
“This additional $5.4 million in federal funding is a tremendous investment in the continued development of the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery – North Alabama. We are incredibly grateful to the National Cemetery Administration for this significant support and to Gov. Kay Ivey for her continued commitment to this project,” ADVA Commissioner Jeff Newton said. “We’ve heard this could be the largest grant ever awarded for a state veterans cemetery, which would make an already historic project even more significant. We are excited to break ground next month and continue building a lasting tribute to the veterans of North Alabama.”
Construction is expected to take approximately 16 to 18 months following groundbreaking.
ADVA also has been awarded $283,200 in federal funding to support the expansion of the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort. The more than 120-acre cemetery in Baldwin County currently has approximately 9,000 graves and is projected to serve more than 190,000 veterans, spouses and eligible dependents over its 100-year lifespan.
