Veterans cemetery in North Little Rock expanding with help of $5.7M U.S. grant

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/THOMAS METTHE -- 7/12/2018 --
Francine Le Brant-Stocker visits the gravesite of her husband, retired Air Force Master Sgt. Erich L. Stocker, on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock. Le Brant Stocker says she visits her husband's gravesite every week since he passed away two years ago, usually bringing fresh flowers when the weather allows in vases that she wrote "I Love You Erich" on.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/THOMAS METTHE -- 7/12/2018 -- Francine Le Brant-Stocker visits the gravesite of her husband, retired Air Force Master Sgt. Erich L. Stocker, on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock. Le Brant Stocker says she visits her husband's gravesite every week since he passed away two years ago, usually bringing fresh flowers when the weather allows in vases that she wrote "I Love You Erich" on.

The federal government will grant more than $5.7 million to the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs to expand its cemetery in North Little Rock.

The agency applied for the grant last year after determining that the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock would reach capacity for certain burial types in 2020 and 2021.

After nearly a year of waiting, U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., and U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and John Boozman, R-Ark., announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had approved the project.

"Creating additional inurnment sites is needed to fulfill the promise we made to veterans," the three members said in a joint statement. "These funds will allow the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock to continue providing an honorable place of rest for the men and women who served in uniform."

The North Little Rock cemetery is one of two operated by the state for veterans -- the other is in Birdeye, a small, unincorporated town in northeast Arkansas. The federal VA manages three others in the state, but one is full.

The federal VA offers burial benefits to honorably discharged veterans. Included with the benefit are grave sites, interment, perpetual care, a government headstone, a burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate free of charge. Spouses and eligible dependents also may be buried with veterans, but must pay a small fee in most cases.

A groundbreaking ceremony to start the expansion is planned for Oct. 15, said Bill Wussick, Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs assistant director of veteran cemeteries. The expansion is expected to take about 18 months.

Wussick added that the $4.7 million general contract is to be awarded to Little Rock-based Hydco Inc.

During construction, the cemetery will remain operational with services continuing as planned, and Wussick said that the cemetery will do everything it can to accommodate safe visitations during the expansion, which includes two phases.

The grant will fund 2,000 additional columbarium niches, 106 pre-placed crypts, roadways, irrigation, landscaping, supporting infrastructure and honor guard and storage rooms.

"This is huge," Wussick said. "It continues our ability to serve our veterans and continues our ongoing partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to continuing serving veterans with burial needs."

Metro on 09/18/2018

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