How you can support state's grant fund request for new veterans' cemetery | Opinion

Tennessee veterans are fortunate to have community leaders who will engage when we need a hand.

Dr. Mike Glenn, senior pastor at Brentwood Baptist Church, wrote to 22 federal, state, county and city leaders when asked to help Tennessee veterans ensure that enough burial space was available for 43,0000 veterans plus their eligible dependents.

With burial space virtually nonexistent at the Veterans Administration Cemetery in Nashville, U.S. Army retiree Donald Belton was told he would have to be buried in Chattanooga if he wanted to use the benefits he earned from his service. That’s a two-hour drive for his family. It’s also a hardship for survivors.

Belton helped form Honor Our Veterans to support veterans' rights. Along the way, Honor Our Veterans has reached out to cities and counties for support for federal funding of a sixth state veterans' cemetery in Tennessee.

Unfortunately, Tennessee came up short for federal funding from the VA when it requested grant funding in the last cycle. Nothing the state did was wrong. Rather, Gov. Bill Lee’s administration did everything right.

The Veterans Administration had just run out of grant funds. Today our entire House delegation, save two, and both of our U.S senators are in full support of the state's effort for grant funding.

The support of our counties and cities is mission-essential as well. Williamson County and the cities of Brentwood and Franklin have already stepped up. More support would be appreciated.

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Tennessee is a very patriotic state. The Lee administration has done a great job supporting federal military installations, our National Guard, our veterans and military families. This state rallies around its veterans and military like no other.

In fact, the land for the sixth state veterans' cemetery has already been donated. That’s 250 acres that isn’t costing taxpayers a dime.

The city of Sparta will be home to the sixth state veteran’s cemetery. This will give the state 11 cemeteries for its veterans.

Our state veterans' cemeteries are hallowed ground. They are built and maintained with federal dollars and managed by dedicated state employees, volunteers and support groups. They are beautifully maintained places that honor our veterans.

Our counties, cities, military service organizations, businesses, religious institutions, Scouts, students and private citizens are encouraged to join us as well an assist the Lee administration.

Please join us and write to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and express your support for the state's grant request.

Those who do so will be helping the federal government keep a promise of no-cost burials for our veterans and their eligible dependents.

These benefits were earned through service to our county in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Reserves National Guard.

Please send that letter to Secretary Dennis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., Washington, D.C. 20420.

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We also encourage you to send a copy of your letter of support to U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty along with your congressional representatives.

With Memorial Day on Monday, you might wish to visit one of Tennessee's federal or state veterans' cemeteries. Special programs honoring those who have paid that full measure of devotion are planned.

Those killed in the line of duty and in combat have earned the respect and gratitude of Americans and many around the world. Join Americans across the county as we honor them.

Thomas Salas Freeman is a veteran and a cofounder of Honor Our Veterans. He is a retired commissioner of National Defense and Military Services and the 8th Congressional District representative to the Governor's Military Council in California. He resides in Williamson County, Tennessee. Reach him by email at TomFreeman44@yahoo.com. 

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to support state's grant fund request for new veterans' cemetery