Congressman Rick Boucher held a press conference on Feb. 11 at the Dublin Town Hall to address progress of the development of Southwest Virginia’s first veterans’ cemetery.

Boucher explained his efforts behind the veterans’ cemetery in Pulaski County. Southwest Virginia does not currently have access to a veterans’ cemetery, the closest being in Amelia County, which is about five hours from Dublin. “Having a cemetery here makes a tremendous amount of sense,” Boucher said when explaining the large number of veterans in this area.

Fall of 2006 began the process to achieve this goal and the U.S. Congress passed legislation that directed the U.S. Army to convey 79.8 acres of land it owns in the Town of Dublin to the Commonwealth of Virginia to establish the region’s first veterans’ cemetery. Boucher explained that the federal government will finance the construction of the cemetery and the state will operate it.

The Virginia General Assembly approved up to $11 million for the construction of the cemetery. A master plan will be selected by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and the National Cemetery Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Boucher said he is unaware of any obstacles to move forward and the construction is scheduled to begin in early 2009, with a formal opening ceremony by Memorial Day 2010.

Some Civilians may think veterans’ and their spouses get the site for free, however, Dan Kemano, Cemeteries Administrator for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, thinks otherwise. “We’re not giving them anything; the veterans earned that, that’s the benefit,” he said. Kemano went on to explain that he expects around 350 burials a year and the cemetery should last 60 to 80 years.
— Holly Hinte