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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Iowa Department Of Veterans Affairs Announces Dedication Ceremony Of The Iowa Veterans Cemetery

Governor Culver to deliver keynote address

(Johnston, IA) - The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs is proud to announce the dedication ceremony of the Iowa Veterans Cemetery on July 3, 2008.  The dedication will begin at 1:00 pm at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, and will feature a keynote address by the Honorable Chet Culver, Governor of Iowa.  The ceremony will also include comments by members of the Iowa Congressional Delegation and representatives from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  The ceremony will coincide with many Fourth of July celebrations throughout the state that honor veterans and our nation. 

Governor Chet Culver commented, “This cemetery will be a fitting and honorable resting place for veterans who sacrificed so much for our freedom.  Every day will be Memorial Day and Veterans Day at this place of reverence.”

All interested parties are invited and encouraged to be present at this special event.  The public may enter the cemetery at noon.  Since parking is limited, visitors will be directed to park at the Van Meter High School.  A free shuttle service will be provided to transport guests from the school to the ceremony.   Immediately following the dedication, refreshments will be served and the grounds and Administration Building will open for self-guided tours.  At 2:30 pm, the Iowa Fallen Heroes monument will be unveiled on the cemetery grounds as a memorial to the soldiers and sailors who have given their lives during the course of the Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.  This monument is the culmination of the Honoring Iowa’s Heroes Project initiated in 2003 by the women in the Ames chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women’s sorority.  

“The Department is extremely excited about the opening of the cemetery,” stated Patrick Palmersheim, Executive Director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs. “We are grateful for the support of the Federal VA, Governor Culver, former Governor Vilsack, the Iowa Legislature, and all the Veteran Service Organizations for making this dream a reality.”

The Iowa Veterans Cemetery was created through a $7.6 million federal grant with additional funds provided by the State of Iowa.  Construction began in July of 2007, on 100 acres of generously donated land by the Knapp and Kenyon families.  The first phase of construction has developed 40 acres that will provide for approximately 20 years of operation.  Once dedicated, the cemetery will be operated and funded by the state, with Steve Young serving as Director. 

Honorably discharged veterans are eligible for interment at the cemetery at no cost; the spouse of a veteran can be interred for a cost of $300.  Currently, the cemetery has over 950 applications approved for interment and 65 remains awaiting burial.

“It is an honor and privilege to serve as the Director of the Iowa Veterans Cemetery,” Steve Young said. “Our goal for this facility is to provide first class, respectful service so that our veterans and their families will be remembered in perpetuity.”

The Iowa Veterans Cemetery is located 10 miles west of Des Moines on Interstate 80 (exit 113), just north of Van Meter, on the newly named Veterans Memorial Drive.  After the dedication, the cemetery will begin full operation on Monday, July 7, 2008. The grounds will be open for public viewing over the July Fourth weekend.