The nearest cemetery for East Texas veterans is in Dallas, according to John Kelly, Director of Texas State Veterans Cemeteries. The National Cemetery Administration aims to provide reasonable access to burial options for veterans within 75 miles of their residence. "Texas State Veterans Cemeteries are hallowed grounds where we provide a final resting place for our eligible veterans and their families," Kelley said.
"We aspire to provide the veterans' burial benefit in East Texas in the form of a Texas State Veterans Cemetery where veterans and their families can commune with their loved ones in a sacred and beautiful setting." Representatives from East Texas veterans organizations gathered Aug. 14 at the Veterans Committee of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss building a State Veterans Cemetery to serve the area.
East Texas has the largest unserved veteran population in Texas, with about 37,252 veterans lacking access. State Veterans Cemeteries are meant to fill the geographical gaps between the four National cemeteries in Texas. Veterans Land Board Texas Veterans Cemeteries started in 2011, with the first opening in 2006.
Now, there are four state cemeteries: Killeen, Corpus Christi, Mission, and Abilene, and one under construction in Lubbock, scheduled to be completed in Fall 2025. There are five VA National Cemeteries in Dallas, two in San Antonio, Houston and El Paso. Establishing a State Veterans Cemetery would benefit the veterans and their loved ones.
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