Veterans Land Board breaks ground on $16 million expansion of Killeen Veterans Cemetery
KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - Folks with the Texas General Land Office and the Veterans Land Board gathered in Killeen on Oct. 30 to break ground on a new project.
Over $16M has been invested to expand the cemetery enough to take care of their needs for the next 10 years.
“So, the investment is a lot,” said Dr. Dawn Buckingham, Commissioner of Texas General Land Office. “It’s not just dollars. It’s a lot of work on behalf of so many people. It’s really the state elected officials, the local elected officials, coming together. All to make this happen.”
“What’s going to be going in, in sections 13,14,15,11, and 12, are 4,700 what we call prepositioned crypts,” said Dr. John Kelley, Dir. Texas State Veterans Cemetery Division.
Prepositioned crypts are preplaced concrete boxes in the ground for future burials.
The expansion will also make room for 4,000 columbaria niches, 2,700 in-ground cremated remains plots, and another committal shelter.
“We’re at Committal Shelter Service A,” said Dr. Kelley. “We’re going to be building a second Committal Service Shelter, Shelter B, just around the corner. Back over that way, where all of this stuff is being built.”
Close to 18,000 veterans have been laid to rest at the one location that only opened up 15-years ago.
A resting place that keeps up with the military standards veterans expect and deserve.
“We learn in military “dress right dress”, we’re going to look good, it’s going to look sharp, it’s going to look presentable, and this is beautiful,” said Mitch Fuller, National and State Legislative Chairman for Texas VFW.
It’s a massive addition to what many people consider to be sacred ground.
“I have several friends buried here,” said Fuller. “So, it’s hallowed ground. Every military cemetery in the world where Americans are buried is hallowed ground and I’ll be honored to join this when my time comes, and the good lord calls me home. This is where I want to be buried.”
Construction should officially be under way on December and they hope to have the work done by the summer of 2027.
So, that thousands of more veterans can have a place to call their final home.
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