National Cemetery Administration
Texas Receives $1,520,470 Grant for the Expansion of Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery
September 14, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) announced today that it has awarded the State of Texas a grant in the amount of $1,520,470 for the expansion of Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas.
"For more than 40 years the NCA has partnered with states such as Texas to fund the building, expansion and maintenance of state Veterans cemeteries," said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Randy Reeves. "By working together, federal, state, tribal and territorial governments will ensure that 95 percent of all U.S. Veterans have access to a burial option within 75 miles of their home. That is a truly commendable achievement."
The grant will fund the construction of 1,400 columbarium niches, a memorial wall, signage, irrigation, landscaping, and supporting infrastructure on approximately two acres, enabling the cemetery to provide continued service for approximately 39,722 Veterans and their eligible family members.
The VA Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP) is designed to complement 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 fiscal year 2019.
For more information about the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery contact Eric Brown, Deputy Director, Texas State Veterans Cemeteries at 512-463-5977 or visit https://vlb.texas.gov/cemeteries/locations/mission/index.html.
