News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Local officials said they will not stop pushing for an Upper Cumberland Veterans cemetery.
The proposed site in White County did not receive federal funding for a second time. Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery Association Chair Donna Fare said there are 25,000 veterans in the region that could use the site.
“I think we are going to have to work with Senator Hagerty and Senator Blackburn about increasing the funding for the National Cemetery Association, Fare said. “Their funding has been level for the past few years, and there is no new money coming in to support the building of cemeteries.”
Fare said she believes the influences of lawmakers could increase the odds of building a cemetery. The state as well as the Upper Cumberland association plans to continue pursuing federal funding for the project.
The federal government claimed that the area is already served. Fare said it is due to a Kentucky veterans site now accepting some people in northern Upper Cumberland counties.
Fare said many veterans today are forced to travel to Knoxville or Nashville for services.
