{"id":73250,"date":"2023-03-28T18:12:01","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T18:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/03\/28\/vet-agency-hopes-for-more-state-run-cemeteries-for-burial-options\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:21:13","slug":"vet-agency-hopes-for-more-state-run-cemeteries-for-burial-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2023\/03\/28\/vet-agency-hopes-for-more-state-run-cemeteries-for-burial-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Vet Agency hopes for more state-run cemeteries for burial options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs officials<\/a> are nearing their goal of establishing a veterans cemetery<\/a> close to where almost every veteran in America currently lives, but they\u2019ll need significant help from state leaders to finish the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, just under 17 million veterans across the country live within 75 miles of a VA-run or VA-funded cemetery, according to department statistics. That\u2019s roughly 94% of the entire population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But VA leaders have set a benchmark of providing a final resting place close to 95% of veterans, which means adding burial options for almost 200,000 more. Establishing a large, nationally-run burial sites near those scattered veteran populations does not make fiscal sense, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But partnering with states, territories and Native American tribes can dramatically improve choices available to veterans, according to Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn.<\/p>\n\n\n\t