Construction on a new state veterans cemetery in Madison County is expected to begin in October, bringing North Alabama closer to having its own burial site for veterans and their families.
Officials with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled detailed plans for the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery-North Alabama during a town hall meeting Thursday at Madison County High School.
The 150-acre cemetery will be located along Maysville Road in northeast Madison County, between Ryland Pike and the community of St. Clair. The project is intended to address what state officials described as a gap in access to veterans burial services in Alabama.
The National Cemetery Administration’s goal is for veterans to have access to a veterans cemetery within 75 miles of their homes. Currently, Alabama’s only veterans cemetery is in Spanish Fort.
United States representative Dale Strong, R-Alabama, attended the town hall and said the project would bring burial services closer to home for tens of thousands of veterans who currently live far from a state or national veterans cemetery.
“Right now, over 42,000 veterans in our area live more than 75 miles from a state or national veterans cemetery. For too long, families have had to travel long distances to lay their loved ones to rest. I’ve long said that needs to change. Our veterans served this country with courage and sacrifice. They deserve to be honored with dignity closer to home in the communities they hold dear,” Strong said.
Groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for October 15. Construction is expected to take between 12 and 14 months, with completion expected in late 2027 or early 2028.
State officials estimate the site will provide enough burial space to serve veterans and their families for about 200 years. Plans call for as many as 150,000 burial sites.
State leaders also hope to add features such as a small amphitheater, an additional shelter and a carillon bell tower that would mark the beginning and end of funeral services, though those additions depend on available funding.
The project is supported by a federal grant of more than $13 million and $20 million in state funding. The Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs has allocated funding for land acquisition and construction.
Jeffrey Newton, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, said the federal funding will allow the project to include more than burial space, with additional features intended to serve veterans, families and the broader community.
“The beauty of having both federal and state dollars is that we can fund special features like an amphitheater,” Newton said. “We’re so excited about this amphitheater that’s going to help us take care of schools that want to come out and do an educational program or some of the big events like Memorial Day, Reach Across America and Veterans Day.”
Burial benefits at the cemetery will be available at no cost to eligible veterans, spouses and dependents. The cemetery also will provide burial services for members of the National Guard who served at least two years and their spouses who are not eligible for burial at a national cemetery.
State officials are encouraging veterans and their families to complete pre-registration forms in advance.
