National Cemetery Administration
Louisiana Receives Grant for Expansion of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
April 9, 2019
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration announced today that it has awarded Louisiana a grant in the amount of $981,225 for the expansion of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Slidell, Louisiana.
"Our state and tribal partners are critical in helping the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) achieve our strategic goal of providing 95 percent of America's Veterans with convenient access to a burial option within 75 miles of their home," said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Randy Reeves. "We will continue to work with and support states and tribes to provide grants which reflect the needs, resources and preferences of the local Veteran community."
This grant will fund the construction of 540 cremain gravesites, 1,080 columbarium niches, flag assembly area enhancements, an avenue of flags, signage, landscaping and supporting infrastructure. The project will develop nearly three acres and serve approximately 65,000 Veterans, their spouses and eligible family members.
The closest national cemetery is Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi which is approximately 58 miles away.
The VA Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP) complements the 136 VA national cemeteries across the country. Since its inception 41 years ago, the VCGP has awarded grants totaling more than $816 million to establish, expand, improve, or operate and maintain 112 state and tribal Veterans cemeteries. These VA-funded cemeteries provided more than 39,000 burials in 2018.
For more information about the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, contact Ted Krumm at 985-646-6458 or visit https://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/southeast-louisiana-veterans-cemetery-director-ted-krumm/.
