Will Augusta get a veterans cemetery? Here's what you need to know
Giving Augusta a veterans cemetery has been a goal of local leaders for more than 20 years.
It’s a huge, multi-million dollar project that would give thousands of service members and their families an honorable place of rest. There have been multiple attempts to bring it to life over the years, and while some progress has been made, it has failed to get off the ground and time is running out.
With a more than $10 million price tag and little time to make it happen, The Augusta Chronicle sought to answer some of the questions residents and service members may have about this project.
Why does Augusta need a veterans cemetery?
If someone in the Augusta area was seeking a burial in a veterans cemetery, they would have to travel a ways. The closest ones are in Milledgeville, Georgia and in Columbia, S.C., both of which are more than 80 miles away.
Former Augusta mayor and leading project advocate Bob Young believes that a veterans cemetery is the last cog in the machine of attracting military retirees to the Augusta area.
"You have the healthcare, you've got the commissary, you've got the PX, you've got all kinds of support for military and former military people in this community except you don't have that final resting place," Young said.
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What are the benefits of a veterans cemetery burial?
Those interested in being buried in a veterans cemetery are eligible for federally-funded Burial Benefits. This grants the military family a gravesite, a marker, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a folded flag and other honors free of charge, saving them thousands of dollars. The benefits are similar for those wanting a cremation, and family members may also be eligible even if they die before the service member.
Who is eligible to be buried in a veterans cemetery?
Detailed eligibility information is available on the Veterans Association's website, but in short, veterans cemeteries are for most members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were not dishonorably discharged, their spouses, and any dependent children who meet the following criteria:
They are under the age of 21.
They are under the age of 23 and still in school.
They are disabled while qualifying in one of the former categories.
While Augusta's cemetery would most prominently benefit nearby families, anyone who meets the eligibility requirements from across the U.S. may be buried in the proposed cemetery.
Where would Augusta's veterans cemetery be located?
More than 200 acres of property have been procured around the East Central Regional Hospital's Gracewood campus. It's located not far from the intersection of Tobacco and Peach Orchard roads. This would be one of the largest redevelopment projects in south Augusta's recent history. Despite its proximity, construction is not expected to interfere with the work being done at the hospital.
How much will Augusta's veterans cemetery cost?
When the project was first priced in 2019, building the new cemetery was estimated at around $10 million. However that number needs to be refreshed with today's economics and does not account for the demolition work needed.
The ongoing management of the cemetery would cost approximately $550,000 annually, which is a current estimate.
But local taxpayers should not worry at this time. While Augusta is facilitating some of the minor construction work (road widening, demolition, etc.), the vast majority of the costs and all of the annual management will be the responsibility of Georgia's Department of Veteran Affairs, not the City of Augusta.
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What problems are facing Augusta's veterans cemetery?
The initial intention was to finance this project with a federal cemetery grant, but that grant is severely underfunded and has therefore become more competitive.
Augusta's cemetery is far down at No. 29 on the grant's list of priorities, in part because the expansions cheaper and easier, but also because there is an issue with how the number of veterans benefited by each project is calculated and Augusta was lowballed. Young said it's a serious problem they are working to resolve.
Another problem the cemetery is facing is that the state committed an initial $1 million investment for planning back in 2021, but the project leads believe that if they cannot find the rest of the funding by September, that investment may be reallocated and put the cemetery on indefinite hold.
How can these problems be fixed?
These are a few of the alternative funding options that have been identified that may cover the cost:
Have the state cover the building costs while still eligible to receive VA reimbursements.
Federal leaders earmark appropriations to cover the cost.
Forming a collaborative effort between the state and federal government to cover the cost.
In order to solidify any of these or other funding options, lobbyists and political leaders have been called on to aggressively push the cemetery at the state and national level. U.S. Rep. Rick Allen reiterated his support in a statement emailed by his communications director Michael Plummer.
"Congressman Allen wholeheartedly supports the establishment of a veterans’ cemetery in Augusta and is communicating with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to highlight how important this project is for members of the community," Plummer noted. "He and his staff are in regular contact with partners at both the state and local levels to support this project for Augusta veterans and their families."
If the funding is secured, ground could break in one-year's time and construction of the cemetery could conclude in the next two to three years.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta veterans cemetery, $10 million, questions and answers
