National Cemetery Administration
Louisiana Receives Grant to Expand Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
September 28, 2021
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration announced today that the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP), which it oversees, has awarded a grant of up to $4,229,552 to the state of Louisiana for the expansion of Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville.
"This grant will ensure Veterans in northwestern Louisiana continue to enjoy easy access to the burial benefit they've earned through their service to our Nation," said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matthew Quinn. "The VA can only achieve its goal of providing widespread burial access to Veterans by working closely with states like Louisiana."
Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery currently serves more than 73,000 Veterans and their eligible family members living within 75 miles of the cemetery. The grant will fund 1,520 pre-placed crypts, 1,260 columbarium niches, signage, entry gates, irrigation, landscaping and supporting infrastructure on approximately 2 acres of land.
VCGP complements the VA national cemetery system by funding state, territorial and tribal Veterans cemeteries, increasing access to burial benefits for Veterans and their eligible family members. Since its inception in 1978, the program has provided more than $910 million to establish, expand, improve, operate and maintain 119 cemeteries in which Veterans are currently interred. In fiscal year 2020, these cemeteries conducted more than 37,000 burials.
For more information about the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, contact Don Howard Cemetery Director, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs at (318) 925-0612 or email Don.Howard@la.gov.
