Friday, July 13, 2007

Grassley Announces $7.6 Million for Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter

Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a $7.6 million grant to create a new State Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. The new cemetery will be called the Iowa Veterans Cemetery . Iowa Veterans Cemetery is the first State Veterans Cemetery in Iowa . Nearly 70,000 veterans and their families live within the service area of this Dallas County Cemetery .

“Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country deserve a proper place for remembrance in their home state,” Grassley said. “This cemetery will provide family, friends, and fellow Iowans with an opportunity to pay their respects to our fallen soldiers.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs State Cemetery Grant Program is designed to complement the 125 national cemeteries across the country. This state cemetery grant program helps states establish new state veterans cemeteries, and expand or improve existing state cemeteries. To date, the program has helped establish 66 state veterans cemeteries in 35 states.

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