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.
"It's well over 100 miles to any veteran cemetery for many East Texas Veterans," according to a press release from the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans Committee. A state cemetery is built using a National Cemetery Administration grant and then operated by the state through interlocal government contracts. VLB funding is provided through loan repayment and bond sales, not taxpayer funds.
Kelly points out that the trigger for a national cemetery is 80,000 unserved veterans. Tyler has 33,140, and New Boston has 31,953—nowhere near the trigger point. "The NCAA wants to build two cemeteries.
..I just want to put one in the middle of those two locations," Kelly said.
"I want to put it in the vicinity of Longview because by doing that, the 75-mile service ark reaches all the way up to Texarkana." Debra Christian has already committed to donating 64 acres of her family's land for the project. Some title issues with one of the plots are currently causing delays, but once they are resolved, she is looking forward to providing East Texas veterans with a dignified final resting place.
"There are a large number of veterans who find that the drive to the Dallas National Cemetery is simply too long and inconvenient for family visitation," Kelly said. "We want to spread the word to all of East Texas, not just Tyler." People can show support by sharing the project with veterans service organizations, groups, concerned citizens and local governments and encouraging them to contact their elected officials.
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