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Kentucky's State Veterans Cemeteries

The mission of KDVA's Cemetery Branch is to ensure dignified interment for veterans in the sacred space of a shrine that stands as a tribute to their service for the Commonwealth and the nation.
 
KDVA operates three State Veterans Cemeteries and is planning two more.
 
Memorial Day Ceremonies
 
All three Kentucky State Veterans Cemeteries held Memorial Day ceremonies on May 25th.  Photos and links are on the individual cemetery web pages.
Open and Planned

The first of these cemeteries, Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, Hopkinsville, Kentucky opened in March 2004 and has interred more than 1,000 veterans and dependents, including 10 active-duty soldiers.

In June 2007, KDVA opened Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central near Fort Knox (Hardin County.)  It has interred more than 750 veterans and dependents.

In August of 2008, KDVA opened Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown (Grant County). It has interred more than 70 veterans and dependents.

KDVA is currently planning cemeteries in Greenup County in Northeastern Kentucky and Leslie County in Southeastern Kentucky. See map below.

State Cemetery Map

Map of State Veterans Cemeteries in Kentucky

National Veterans Cemeteries with space remaining in Kentucky are clustered in the central part of the state, at Camp Nelson, Lebanon and Mills Springs.  To meet the federal mandate of veterans cemeteries within a 75-mile radius of all veterans, Kentucky determined it needed state veterans cemeteries in the western, northern, northeastern and southeastern parts of the state.

Qualifications and Services

Qualifications

Interment in a state veteran's cemetery is based on military service. The eligibility criteria is the same criteria for burial in VA national cemeteries. KDVA staff will direct requests for interment to staff at the cemetery where burial is sought.

Services

Total interment services include:

  • Furnishing grave or columbarium space
  • Opening and closing the grave
  • Providing the interment site with perpetual care
  • Supplying a suitable marker or headstone
  • Furnishing an optional concrete grave liner for all casketed burials

NOTE on markers and headstones:  Although the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers flat marble or bronze markers in addition to upright bronze and marble headstones, KDVA permits only upright marble headstones and marble columbarium niche markers at our state cemeteries.

Memorial Bricks

MEMORIAL BRICKS FOR VETERANS CEMETERY

Honor and Memorialize Veterans With a Permanent Contribution

Click here for more information [PDF 166K]

Click here for a Memorial Brick Order Form [PDF 115K]

 

 
Related Content
 

Attention Funeral Directors:

New Law Requires Burial Honors Fact Sheet

Download Fact Sheet [PDF 13K]

  

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central

Dedicated in Radcliff June 1

Read the Details [PDF 37K]
Last Updated 5/27/2009
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