The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded two grants to Georgia Department of Veterans Service to expand Georgia’s two veteran cemeteries. The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville received $5,135,900 to undergo its next expansion.
The Milledgeville cemetery opened in 2001 and is a 142-acre cemetery with the potential capacity to hold over 100,000 veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Previously expanded in 2011 and 2018, the current expansion will develop approximately five acres and add 1,680 pre-placed crypts and 548 inground burial spaces to the cemetery.
“There is enough land for 100,000 graves here so when the architect began work in 2001, different phases were numbered and this is the area we will move to next,” said Linda Lavender, director of The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville.
As of Oct. 1, there are currently 5,608 veterans, spouses, and dependents buried in the cemetery. The continuous expansions of the cemetery are established in phases as set by the master plan developed in 2001, with this current phase being referred to as phase 4B.
“This grant will give us additional space to meet the needs of veteran families around the state of Georgia and outside of the state,” said Lavender. “It will ensure we will always have spots available to provide for our veterans.”
Work is anticipated to begin around December and end in September 2025. According to Lavender, Stark Construction, Inc. out of Fairburn Ga. was selected to complete the work.
“I cannot give an estimation of how many more phases will be completed before we reach capacity but I can say it will be quite a while before we reach it,” said Lavender.
In addition to awarding a grant to Milledgeville’s cemetery, a grant of $3,051,480 was awarded to the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville to develop approximately 2 acres and add 920 pre-placed crypts.
“Grant funds will be used to plan, prepare, and develop cemetery grounds to serve veterans and their families for the next 10 years. Both cemeteries will see enhancements to roadways, landscaping, irrigation and supporting infrastructure, and the placement of the Space Force emblem in the ceremonial area,” states the press release from The Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville is open every day, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to dark. Work will not disturb normal operations or visitations. Anyone wishing to visit or pay tribute at the cemetery may bring flowers (real or artificial) to the graveside but no other trinkets or objects are allowed.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to know the Department of Veterans Affairs sees our need and that we can continue to serve our veterans and their families. They served our country and we are ensuring we can take care of them,” said Lavender.