Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West
KDVA opened the Commonwealth's first state veterans cemetery in Hopkinsville on 1 March 2004 and interred the first veteran there the same day. He was a World War II veteran, an African-American Kentucky native who joined the Army when it was still segregated.
As of June 30, 2011, KVCW has interred more than 1,723 veterans and dependents, including 26 active-duty service members. Read about the 1,200th interment here. [PDF 23K]
Wreaths Across America
More than 300 people attended the Wreath Across America ceremony at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville on Saturday, Dec. 10. Volunteers placed wreaths on all 1,520 headstones at the cemetery.
View more photos here.
Veterans Day 2011
Veterans, families and friends placed more than 1,000 wreaths on headstones at KVCW during the Wreaths Across America ceremony Dec. 11.
View more photos of the placed wreaths here.
Veterans Day 2010
Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. (please note corrected time) Thursday, Nov. 11. Service sponsored by the Fort Campbell Americion Legion Post 233 family.
Posting of the colors by the Pennyrile Honor Guard, greeings from Fort Campbell American Legion Commander Post 233 Marvin Toomer, Invocation by Chaplain Patricia Basner from Auxiliary Unit 233, Benedication by Dept. of Kentucky ALA 2nd Vice President Jane McNight.
Guest Speaker will be Oak Grove Mayor Dan Potter
Lunch reception will be at noon at the American Legion Post 233 in Oak Grove, KY.
Memorial Day 2010
On May 31, 2010, more than 400 people attended Memorial Day services at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville. John Brame, Commander VFW Post 1913 started the Memorial Day service with the presentation of colors by the PennyRile Honor Guard.
Dr. Dennis M. Swain, D.D.S., Member of VFW Post 1913 and a Vietnam War Air Force Veteran offered the Memorial Day Remembrance.
Wreaths were placed in memory of fallen veterans by Jane McKnight & Patricia Basner from the Fort Campbell American Legion Auxiliary Unit 233 & Barbara Jane Holloway & John Brame placed the wreath from VFW Post 1913.
TAPS was played by Mr. Johnny C. Brown
A US Flag Retirement Ceremony was held to replace the flag on the cemetery’s main flag pole. Mr. Johnny C. Brown played “To The Colors” as the new flag was brought to full staff at the noon hour.
The cemetery staff held a “Year of Honors Remembrance” for those veterans & dependents interred at the cemetery in the last year. Photos & biography were on display for those interred in the last year.
A Closing Prayer was offered by Paul Barnes, Chaplain VFW Post 1913 to end the ceremony and everyone was invited back to the Hopkinsville VFW Post 1913 where lunch was provided following the service.
A Special Thank You Goes Out To The Fort Campbell American Legion Auxiliary Unit 233 For Replacing All Flags In Flag Plaza And To VFW Post 1913 For Replacing The US Flag on the main flag pole at the cemetery.
See more pictures here.
 |
Featured Photos |
 |
Earth Day Flower Planting
Volunteers from WalMart in Hopkinsville planted flowers and greenery at KVCW in April 2010.
Click here to see more photos.
During ceremonies on November 11, KVCW Dedicated a new Scattering Garden and Bridge that were donated by AMVETS Post 78.
Memorial Day 2009
More than 400 people attended the Memorial Day ceremonies at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West on May 25.
For more pictures of the ceremony, click here.
|
Description |
|
Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West was dedicated on 21 November 2003. BG (ret.) John Nicholson, US Dept. of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, delivered the keynote address. The cemetery opened and the first interments took place on 1 March 2004.
Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West is located on 80 acres on Route 41A south of Hopkinsville at mile marker eleven (11.) It includes a 3,600-square-foot administration building, a 4,400-square-foot maintenance building with service area, committal facility and a columbarium. It also has appropriate parking, road network, walking path and landscaping commensurate with the dignity and honor of a state veterans cemetery.
Construction and initial equipment for KVCW cost $6.2 million. The state paid the initial cost to acquire the land, but was reimbursed by private donations. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reimbursed the state for construction, and the state pays the operating costs.
Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West
5817 Fort Campbell Boulevard
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Phone: 270-889-6106
Fax: 270-889-6109
Email: kdva.kvcw@ky.gov
|
Qualifications and Services |
|
Qualifications
Burial 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.
|