Secretary Shinseki Announces Award of $1.8 Million to Delaware

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: VA Office of Public Affairs, +1-202-461-7600

Grant Will Expand the State Veterans Cemetery in Sussex

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary ofVeterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced the Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA) is awarding $1.8 million to the DelawareVeterans Memorial Cemetery in Sussex to expand its facility.

"This vital federal-state partnership will honor our nation'scommitment to Delaware's Veterans," said Secretary Shinseki.

The grant to the state-run facility will fund the construction ofa columbarium, pre-placed crypts and full-casket burial sites. Theproject will include 400 standard burial plots, 1,140 pre-placedcrypts, 200 in-ground cremains, and 1,280 columbarium niches.

The nearest national cemetery is VA's Indiantown Gap NationalCemetery in Annville, Pa., nearly 200 miles away. The nearest stateVeterans cemetery is the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in NewCastle County, approximately 80 miles away.

VA's State Cemetery Grants Program is designed to complement VA's130 national cemeteries across the country. Since 1980, the programhas awarded grants totaling more than $350 million to establish,expand or improve 74 Veterans cemeteries in 38 states or territoriesincluding Guam and Saipan. These state cemeteries provided nearly25,000 burials in 2008.

Residents of Delaware who are Veterans with an honorabledischarge from active duty, their spouses and eligible dependentchildren can be buried in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery inSussex and the New Castle County Cemetery.

For more information about the Delaware state Veteranscemeteries, visit the Web site at http://veteransaffairs.delaware.gov/dvmc.shtmlor call (302) 739-2792.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from nationalcemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.govor by callingVA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs