Mr. Roger R. Rapp, Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs announces that Governor Jeanne Shaheen and the Executive Council approved a regulatory change regarding out of state veterans.
On March 14, 2001 New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen and Executive Council approved a regulatory change that opens the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery to all eligible veterans and family members regardless of their State of residence. The cemetery, located in Boscawen, just north of the State capitol of Concord, was established in 1997 with a 50/50 matching grant of $1.1 million from National Cemetery Administration, State Cemetery Grants Program. Under the terms of the grant program, States are free to impose eligibility requirements that are more strict than national cemeteries, but not less strict. In most cases, stricter criteria take the form of State residency requirements. While most western States have adopted eligibility regulations that do not require State residency; New Hampshire is the first eastern State to do so. As a complement to VA’s system of national cemeteries, the State Cemetery Grants Program has helped to establish, expand or improve 43 operational State veteran cemeteries. Six additional cemeteries are now under construction. The State veterans cemeteries provided 14,355 burials in FY 2000.
Roger R. Rapp
Acting Under Secretary
For Memorial Affairs