Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Planning Two National Cemeteries For Florida

September 10, 2010 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is searching for placement for 2 national cemeteries in Florida. One they hope to put into place around Brevard County to support veterans who are located in East Central Florida. The other they hope to put somewhere closer to Tallahassee. Once the VA finds the necessary land, both cemeteries will more than likely be built.

Florida National Cemetery is approximately 90 miles away from Brevard County and it is the closest national cemetery. For families wanting to visit their loved ones, that trip can be inconvenient. For veterans attending funerals for their friends, the trip can become a hardship. A cemetery closer to the coastline would make things much easier for many families.

The VA would like to talk to landowners willing to either sell or donate at least 200 acres of land. Specifically, the land must be within 25 miles of the Interstate 95 and State Road 528 Interchange. Although the VA originally named the Cape Canaveral area in their announcement looking for land, their 25 mile parameter will include areas of:

• Brevard County;
• Orange County; and
• Osceola County.

There are approximately 73,000 veterans living in Brevard County and a high number of elderly veterans eligible for burial in national cemeteries. There are 7 VA cemeteries already in existence in Florida, but none of them are closer than the proposed cemetery for Brevard County.