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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 four State Veterans Cemeteries and is planning one more.
 
Memorial Day 2012
 
KDVA will hold Memorial Day ceremonies at all four open Kentucky State Veterans Cemeteries on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East

Monday, May 28, noon.  Guest speaker will be Ret. Sgt. Major Bobby L. Reynolds, member of the Governor's Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs. Invocation, Posting and Retiring of the Colors, and laying of Wreaths by American Legion Post 93. Refreshments by AMVETS Post 95. Olivia Black, violinist at Paul G. Blazer High School, will play the National Anthem.

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North

1 p.m. Monday, May 28. Guest speaker will be Rep. Royce Adams. Grant County Honor Guard will post the colors. Leannda Drysdale will sing the National Anthem. Maj. (Ret.) Dwayne Edwards will give the invocation/benediction. Ceremonial wreaths sponsored by the Grant County Deposit Bank of Williamstown. Refreshments provided by the Williamstown Women's Club.

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central

Service will be held at 2 p.m. (ET) Monday, May 28. Flag Placement will be on Saturday, May 26 at 10:00 am. LTC Terry Owens  Health Services Branch Chief, Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, will be the guest speaker. Heartland Fillies, Patriotic singing group, will sing the national anthem and other songs. Chaplain Otto Ballou will give the invocation and benediction. Sponsored by VFW Post 10281.

 

Open and Planned

The first of these cemeteries, Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West (Hopkinsville) opened in March 2004 and has interred more than 1,723 veterans and dependents, including 26 active-duty service members.

In June 2007, KDVA opened Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central near Fort Knox (Hardin County.)  It has since interred more than 1,845 veterans and dependents, including 5 active-duty service members.

In August of 2008, KDVA opened Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown (Grant County).  This facility has interred more than 383 veterans and dependents, including 4 active-duty service members.

On October 1, 2010, KDVA opened Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East (Greenup County). It has interred more than 90 veterans and dependents.

KDVA is currently planning its fifth state veterans cemetery in Leslie County (Southeastern Kentucky). See map below.

State Cemetery Map

Map of 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

 
Related Content
 

Attention Funeral Directors:

New Law Requires Burial Honors Fact Sheet

Download Fact Sheet [PDF 13K]

Interment Application Form [PDF 32K]

  

Last Updated 5/3/2012
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