There are more than 40,000 veterans living in the tri-state area, but the nearest veterans cemeteries are in Sturgis, South Dakota, or Fort Snelling in St. Paul.
“This makes it very difficult and expensive for those living in this region to have a military burial,” said Vietnam veteran Buck Underwood, Luverne.
That’s why he and other local veterans are pleased by a current construction project only 30 miles away to establish a new state veterans cemetery north of Sioux Falls.
It will be built in 10 to 12 phases to provide for 7,320 preplaced crypts, 13,179 in-ground cremains sites, 7,920 columbarium niches and 100 memorial wall markers.
All totaled, the new cemetery will have the capacity to honor 28,519 soldiers. The sites will be free for veterans and $750 for spouses.
“Now they won’t have to go to Sturgis or St. Paul to be buried in a military cemetery,” said Underwood, commander of the Purple Heart Sioux Falls Chapter, which is among many organizations supporting the project.
Veterans service organizations, legislators, lobbyists, local leaders, and the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs worked together during the 2018 South Dakota Legislative Session to pass a bill into law that provides funding from the National Cemetery Administration.
“This is a project for veterans by veterans,” Underwood said.
“Many veterans spent over a decade working to bring a state veterans cemetery to South Dakota. It was their passion for this project that kept the momentum going and made the dream a reality.”
The city of Sioux Falls gifted the state more than 60 acres of land just north of the I-229 and I-90 interchange, and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs awarded the state a $6.9 million National Cemetery grant to round out funding.
Groundbreaking was Sept. 9 for Phase 1, which will provide 610 preplaced crypts, 999 cremains sties, 660 columbarium niches and 50 memorial wall markers.
The first phase will develop nearly 13 acres with a main entrance, avenue of flags, administrative building, maintenance facility, roads, assembly area, committal shelter, scatter burial area, memorial walkway, landscaping and supporting infrastructure.
Journey Construction is the primary contractor and will work with the VA to keep the project on scope, on time and on budget.
Senate Bill 91 also authorized the South Dakota Veterans Council to establish an endowment fund for the veterans cemetery. The council partnered with the South Dakota Community Foundation to establish a perpetual fund to accept tax-deductible donations.
“This cemetery will be a tribute to patriots,” Underwood said, recognizing those who worked to make it happen. “It will immortalize the sacrifices that have been made for our freedoms.”