Honoring Veterans, Building a Cemetery

Texas Veterans Cemetery needed in East Texas

East Texas is home to the largest population of Texas Veterans who live more than 75 miles from the nearest National or State Veterans cemetery.

We need to find suitable land, 50 to 75 acres, ideally located in NE Smith, Gregg, N. Rusk, W. Harrison, or S. Upshur counties. The land would ultimately be donated to the State of Texas.

1. The initial construction costs would be shared by the State of Texas, and a grant from the National Cemetery Administration, which is part of the Veterans Administration, would fund the Texas Veterans Land Board's design and perpetual care of the cemetery's grounds and facilities.

2. Currently, there are five Texas State Veterans Cemeteries, in Killeen, Corpus Christie, Mission, Abilene, and Lubbock. In addition, there are five VA National Cemeteries in Dallas, Houston, El Paso and two in San Antonio. As you can see it’s well over 100 miles to any Veteran cemetery for many East Texas Veterans.

3. Texas State Veterans Cemetery burials are a benefit earned by Veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependents for their dedicated service to our country. There is no charge for the interment of Veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependents. The burial benefit includes military honors for Veterans, a grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, a concrete grave liner for casketed burials, a headstone or marker, burial flag presentation to the next of kin, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, playing of Taps, a gun salute and perpetual care of the grave. The funeral home will obtain a burial flag to accompany the Veteran's casket or urn and will assist with requesting military honors.

We desperately need a Texas Veteran Cemetery in East Texas!

Comments from supporters

I had a good friend who was a Vietnam Helicopter pilot, Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient. His service to his country was very important to him so he wanted to be buried in Veteran Cemetery. There was no Veteran Cemetery in East Texas so he had to be buried at the National Veterans Cemetery in Dallas. Its now over 100 miles one way for his family to visit and pay their respects.

Steve Lowe

In discussing the proposed East Texas State Veterans Cemetery I actually spoke to a woman who nearly cried when she shared she still had her husbands cremated remains, hoping for such a cemetery locally so that she would be able to visit his interred remains locally.My own cousin, who lives in Tyler, also has her husbands cremated remains for that very same reason.

Mary Hagan, LTC USA (Retired)