SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota has opened its first state-run veterans cemetery. The South Dakota Veterans Cemetery is the first federally funded, state-owned, and operated, veterans cemetery in the state. The cemetery will serve veterans throughout the state and around the country, as there is no state residency requirement to be interred in the cemetery.
Construction on the cemetery began late in 2019 and culminated with a ribbon cutting on Memorial Day. The city of Sioux Falls donated 60 acres for the cemetery, which was funded with $600,000 from the state and $6 million from the federal government.
The cemetery is scheduled to begin interments this week. The first phase has space for more than 2,300 interments, including caskets, burial of cremains, a scattering garden and a columbaria, the Argus Leader reported.
The cemetery will eventually provide burial options for more than 28,000 veterans and their eligible dependents.
The South Dakota Veterans Cemetery compliments services provided by the National Cemetery Administration. The National Cemetery Administration provides support to state cemeteries in the form of grants that are used for development, expansion, and/or improvement of state veterans cemeteries.
