Cape Canaveral VA Cemetery Honors First 12

Cape Canaveral VA cemetery holds first burials
FLORIDA TODAY
R. Norman Moody
January 13, 2016

The cemetery is expected to serve the burial needs of more than 163,000 veterans in Brevard and surrounding counties for the next 100 years.

SCOTTSMOOR — A caisson carrying the cremated remains of 12 veterans and drawn by two mules ushered in the first burial ceremony at the new Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.

The remains were from members of all five branches of the U.S. military, including the Coast Guard. The service featured full military honors.

Among the veterans buried was Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Garvey, who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and was 89 when he died in April.

His sons, Tom Garvey, of Titusville, and Glenn Garvey, who lives in Brandon, said they waited to have their father buried at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery so he would be nearby.

"Being here, we knew of this coming, so we waited to have him interred here," said Tom Garvey, who like his brother, is a Vietnam veteran. "It's an honor to have him as one of the first."
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See video report from WFTV News
VA to open Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims

Tallahassee National Cemetery Opening Soon

VA oversees largest expansion of national cemeteries since the Civil War 
VAntage Point
Chris Erbe
August 4, 2015

More than 500 Veterans, family members and patriotic citizens witnessed the ceremonial breaking of ground and dedication of the Tallahassee National Cemetery earlier this summer.

The event, fittingly held on Memorial Day weekend, attracted a stellar cast of local, state and national dignitaries, community and military bands, color and honor guard units, Veterans and supporters. 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald provided the keynote address. He was joined onstage by Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Jeff Miller, Ranking Member Corrine Brown, U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, interim Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters and other state and local officials. “Here, we establish another glade of America’s most hallowed ground,” said McDonald, “to pay homage to men and women who so valued America that they placed their lives at risk in the defense of generations yet to come.”

When Tallahassee National Cemetery opens for first burials in a few short weeks, it will be part of the largest expansion of national cemeteries since the Civil War. 

In the next few years, VA will open 17 new cemeteries throughout the country.

Later in 2015, VA will dedicate Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, also in Florida. This entire expansion effort will increase or enhance burial access for over two million Veterans and their families. 

Once these planned projects are complete, more than 96 percent of Veterans will have access to a burial option within a 75-mile radius of their homes.

VA will build five full-service national cemeteries—the two in Florida and three others planned for Omaha, Neb., western New York and southern Colorado. read more here