UC Veterans Cemetery Again Denied Funding

The Upper Cumberland once again denied by the National Cemetery Administration in the request to fund a veterans cemetery for the region.

Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery Association Chair Donna Fare said the request denied because the administration believes there are no veterans in the region that would benefit from the cemetery. Fare said she does not understand why federal officials do not recognize over twenty-five thousand veterans living in the region.

“We’ve even sent mileage from every county seat in every county in the Upper Cumberland,” Fare said. “Mileage being how far it would take to drive to the far side of Nashville where there is an existing state veterans cemetery, the mileage to drive to the east side of Knoxville to get to another state veterans cemetery.”

Fare said her association is working with legislators on the possibility of funding the project through the state government. Fare said the plan is only an idea at this point but she hopes to see the cemetery considered in upcoming discussions for the state’s next fiscal year.

“I hope that every veteran in the Upper Cumberland sends an email or a letter to Senator Blackburn and Senator Hagerty and Representative Rose and Representative DesJarlais,” Fare said. “And explain to them that there’s twenty-five thousand veterans in the Upper Cumberland, not zero.”

Fare said the cemetery administration previously responded to the request by recognizing a national cemetery in Mill Springs, Kentucky. Fare said this cemetery is located across the Cumberland River and there is no bridge to access the site.

“You have to drive way out of your way to get around to find a bridge to get across,” Fare said. “So therefore that cemetery is over ninety miles for many of the veterans in the Upper Cumberland.”

Fare said there is little else that can be done beyond to advance the project outside of working with the state or applying for federal funds next year. Fare said a veterans cemetery has become even more important for the region as many veteran retirees are moving in.

“The national cemetery in Chattanooga is taking very few interments now because that cemetery is about full,” Fare said. “And the National Cemetery Administration would like to expand that national cemetery.”