National Cemetery Administration
Maryland Receives $7,865,950 Grant for the Expansion of Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery
September 29, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) announced today that it has awarded the state of Maryland a grant in the amount of $7,865,950 for the expansion of Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham, Maryland.
"The VA, working together with the states, is able to provide nearly 95% of the Veterans living in the U.S. the option of burial in a Veterans cemetery," said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Randy Reeves. "This speaks to a remarkable partnership between state and federal governments that has been in existence now for more than 40 years."
This grant will fund the construction of 1,302 in-ground cremains sites, 450 columbarium niches, an administration building, bulk material storage building, vehicle and equipment storage building, improvement of existing maintenance building, flag assembly area, road improvements, landscaping, and supporting infrastructure on approximately 16.30 acres, enabling the cemetery to provide continued service for approximately 332,460 Veterans and their eligible family members.
The VA Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP) is designed to complement the VA national cemeteries. Since its inception in 1978, the VCGP has awarded grants totaling more than $862 million to establish, expand, improve, or operate and maintain 117 state and tribal Veterans cemeteries. These grant-funded cemeteries provided more than 39,000 burials in 2019.
For more information about the Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery contact Russell Ware, Director, Cemetery and Memorial Programs, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs at 410-923-6981 or visit https://veterans.maryland.gov/category/services/benefits/.
