May 22, 2009

Governor Riley Signs Law to Establish State Veterans Cemetery in Baldwin County

SPANISH FORT - Governor Bob Riley on Friday signed into law a bill establishing the first state-run veterans’ cemetery and allowing the state to utilize federal grant money to pay for construction costs.

Governor Riley was joined by bill sponsor Representative Randy Davis as well as officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs and members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars at a bill signing ceremony across from historic Blakeley State Park in Spanish Fort where the cemetery is set to be built.

“So many Alabamians have fought bravely and selflessly for this country and they deserve to have a final resting place here in Alabama,” said Governor Riley. “We can never fully repay the debt we owe our veterans, but we must do everything we can to honor their service and remember their sacrifice in life and in death. It is my hope that this new cemetery will serve not only as a benefit for our veterans, but also as a lasting memorial of their service for this area and this state.”

Rear Adm. (Ret.) Clyde Marsh, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, said the new cemetery will serve some 71,000 veterans living in close proximity to the site.

“This cemetery will allow Alabama to take its rightful place among the top states that provide the very best support to its veterans, even after they have fought their last battle by laying them in final repose with all the honor, dignity and respect they earned as military men, women, veterans and heroes.”

A veteran can request burial at any national cemetery, but most prefer to be buried within close proximity to their home. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates two national cemeteries in Alabama and is building a third in Montevallo, but in-state burial options for veterans in south Alabama have remained sparse.

In addition to authorizing the State Board of Veterans Affairs to establish the new cemetery, the new law allows the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs to secure a grant totaling approximately $7.6 million from the National Cemetery Administration for construction of the facility.

The new law passed unanimously in both the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate. Sponsors of the bill were Representative Davis in the House and Senator Hank Sanders in the Senate.