Washington State’s veterans community has advocated for the
establishment of a Veterans
Cemetery in Eastern Washington for
the past decade.
Initially, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)
explored the possibility of
requesting a National Cemetery in
Eastern Washington, similar to the Tahoma National
Cemetery
in Western Washington. Because the veteran population was
not
high enough to
meet the federal requirements, WDVA began
working
toward establishing a State Veterans
Cemetery.
A State Veterans Cemetery will fill a significant gap in services
for
nearly 140,000
veterans living in Eastern Washington, and
their families.
It will provide a valuable service already available to veterans
residing
in Western Washington.
Master Plan document submitted to Federal VA Cemetery Grants Program.
Portions of the document and design may change as we progress through the Federal VA Approval process; however, changes will be shared as they become available.
June 2009
Cemetery Update from the Director's Message...
Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Groundbreaking Ceremony on Memorial Day! This wonderful occasion would not have been possible without the donations and efforts put forth by dedicated Veterans and the Medical Lake and Spokane communities! I am excited to see the project enter into the next phase and will continue to share updates and pictures on the project throughout the summer months.
Photo courtesy of Jeff T. Green.
So what can we expect from our Washington State Veterans Cemetery?
The following pictures are of state cemeteries across the nation. While each has unique features, settings, and designs the Federal VA mandates specific criteria for the states to follow to develop a State Veterans Cemetery. Further information regarding this can be located under the links section to the right.
Location:
Map of the 80 acre Washington State Veterans Cemetery - Medical Lake
Location - North of West Medical Lake off West Espanola Road
Click for larger image
YOU CAN HELP!
Proceeds from the Armed Forces License Plates will help pay for ongoing
maintenance of the
Washington State Veterans Cemetery - Medical Lake.
Buy yours today at any local licensing agent!
YOU CAN HELP!