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VA Provides Over $77 Million in Grants to State Veterans Cemeteries

The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded more than $77 million in grants in fiscal year 2025 for the expansion and improvement of 20 state veterans cemeteries throughout the nation and one establishment grant for Alaska’s first state veterans cemetery.

VA’s National Cemetery Administration reimburses states for the cost of building, improving, or expanding state-run veterans cemeteries. State grants typically fund the construction of pre-placed crypts, columbaria, and improvements required to continue interments and operations.

In fiscal year 2025, VA grant-funded cemeteries interred more than 43,705 veterans and eligible family members, which is approximately 25% of the 174,705 total annual interments in all national and VA grant-funded Veterans cemeteries.

Since 1980, VA has awarded grants totaling over $1.1 billion to 124 veterans cemeteries in 47 states, 14 tribal nations, and 3 territories (Guam, Saipan, and Puerto Rico). In partnership with VA’s 157 national cemeteries, these state, territorial, and tribal veterans cemeteries ensure more than 94% of all veterans living in the United States have access to a veterans cemetery within 75 miles of their home.

“Veterans cemeteries keep the memories of America’s heroes alive,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

He added that the VA “is committed to ensuring America’s Veterans cemeteries have the resources they need to provide excellent memorial benefits and services to our nation’s Veterans and their families, and these grants underscore that fact.”

The grants are as follows:

  • $16,712,172 for the establishment of the Interior Alaska Veterans Cemetery in Fairbanks. The cemetery will serve more than 12,000 Veterans and their eligible family members. This is Alaska’s first state Veterans cemetery.
  • $804,117 for the expansion of Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana. The cemetery serves more than 122,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.
  • $2,164,439 for the expansion of Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, and VA will also reimburse the state $450,000 for the cost of fabrication and delivery of pre-placed crypts. This cemetery serves more than 105,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.
  • $5,267,845 for the expansion of the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock. VA will also reimburse the state $2,325,451 for the cost of fabrication and delivery of outer burial receptacles used for the project. The cemetery serves more than 93,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.
  • $929,477 for the expansion of the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Winfield. VA will also reimburse the state $427,000 for the cost of fabrication and delivery of outer burial receptacles used for the project. The cemetery serves more than 58,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.
  • $999,300 for the expansion of the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff. The cemetery serves more than 156,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.
  • $1,026,308 for expansion of Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville. The cemetery serves more than 171,000 Veterans and their eligible family members.

Veterans interred in most VA-grant funded cemeteries are also memorialized on VA’s Veterans Legacy Memorial site. This allows family, friends, and others to preserve their veteran’s legacy by posting tributes, uploading images, and sharing their Veteran’s achievements, biographical information, and historical documents.

Philadelphia-Area Cemetery Unveils Security Upgrades After Alleged Theft of Human Remains

A historic cemetery spanning Philadelphia and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania is implementing a sweeping security overhaul following the arrest of a man authorities allege stole human remains from dozens of burial sites, according to a report by The Independent.

Officials at Mount Moriah Cemetery announced the changes after Jonathan Gerlach, 34, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody and charged in connection with what prosecutors described as an extensive pattern of grave robberies. Investigators allege Gerlach broke into and damaged at least 26 mausoleums and underground vaults, removing skeletal remains over the course of several months.

Gerlach now faces many charges, including multiple counts of burglary, criminal trespass, intentional desecration of public monuments, abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property. Authorities estimate the case involves more than 100 sets of human remains.

The security upgrades were announced by John R. Schmehl Jr., president of the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, a nonprofit organization that helps maintain and preserve the burial ground. Schmehl said the group is moving quickly to address the violations, noting his family’s historical connection to the cemetery, which dates back to the mid-19th century.

The investigation began after members of the nonprofit alerted law enforcement to widespread damage and disturbance across the cemetery grounds. According to reports, police later identified Gerlach’s vehicle near the cemetery on numerous occasions during the period when the alleged break-ins occurred.

During surveillance conducted on January 6, detectives observed Gerlach’s car parked near the cemetery. Authorities reported that bones and skulls were visible inside the vehicle. Gerlach was later seen leaving the cemetery carrying tools and a bag, after which he was arrested. Investigators said he acknowledged taking approximately 30 sets of remains.

In response, the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery accelerated plans to expand surveillance camera coverage across the property. The organization is also repairing and reinforcing fencing along several bordering streets, including sections near a SEPTA transit loop, and plans to conduct patrols at unpredictable times to discourage trespassing.

Schmehl said the nonprofit has already spent approximately $20,000 repairing damaged mausoleums and gravesites. Materials to restore a single section of fencing have been estimated at $9,000, prompting the organization to seek public donations to help fund the ongoing security improvements.

Gerlach is believed to have stolen remains from other cemeteries as well.

Read the full article.

Cemeteries Increasingly Battle Theft

From bronze vases pried from veterans’ graves to copper doors ripped from historic mausoleums, cemeteries across the country are increasingly confronting a troubling rise in theft — crimes that strike at both sacred ground and grieving families.

In Missouri, a multi-county investigation recently revealed how vulnerable cemetery property can be. Police say a Foristell man stole nearly 200 bronze cemetery vases from multiple burial grounds, including St. Charles Memorial Gardens and Valhalla Cemetery in St. Louis County, according to a report by KSDK.com.

The vases, many of which marked the graves of veterans, were allegedly sold for scrap metal, netting the suspect only a fraction of their true value. While authorities estimate the resale value of the bronze at roughly $125 per trip, the vases themselves often cost families $300 or more apiece.

For families, the loss was not measured in dollars. Dawn Roelling, daughter of U.S. Air Force veteran Joseph Bush, learned of the theft not from cemetery staff, but through a social media post. When she visited her father’s grave, the vase was gone.

Hundreds of miles away, the damage left behind by theft was even more severe — and long-lasting. At Detroit’s historic Woodmere Cemetery, thieves targeted century-old mausoleums during a wave of crime in the early 2010s, stealing bronze and copper doors, gates, and stained-glass windows. Among the victims was the family mausoleum of Oscar Rosenberger, a prominent Detroit industrialist whose final resting place was designed by famed architect Albert Kahn.

Susan Burns, Rosenberger’s granddaughter and the only living relative, discovered the desecration years later while reading an online article. No one from the cemetery had contacted her. Copper doors were gone, a stained-glass window removed, and the mausoleum left exposed to rain, snow, and temperature extremes — accelerating its deterioration, according to a report in the Detroit Metro Times.

Together, the cases underscore a growing challenge for cemetery operators nationwide. Rising scrap metal prices, large and often lightly monitored grounds, and aging infrastructure have made cemeteries attractive targets for theft. The consequences, however, extend far beyond property loss. Families experience renewed grief, anger and a profound sense of violation when memorials are damaged or stolen.

Safeguarding Sacred Spaces

As theft becomes more prevalent, cemeteries are being forced to rethink how they protect their grounds. Industry experts point to several practical steps that can significantly reduce risk:

  • Enhanced surveillance, including strategically placed cameras and improved lighting, particularly near entrances, mausoleums, and high-value memorials.
  • Controlled access after hours through fencing, gates, and monitored entry points.
  • Regular grounds inspections, so missing or damaged items are identified quickly, increasing the chances of recovery and arrest.
  • Stronger relationships with local law enforcement and scrap metal dealers, who can be alerted to suspicious activity or unusual material sales.
  • Use of alternative materials or secure mounting systems that make memorial items harder to remove or less attractive for resale.

Just as critical as physical security is how cemeteries respond when theft does occur.

Communicating With Families After Theft

Both Missouri and Detroit cases reveal a painful pattern: families learning about crimes through news reports or social media rather than directly from the cemetery. That breakdown in communication can compound emotional harm and expose operators to reputational and legal risk.

Best practices for family communication include:

  • Prompt notification once theft or vandalism is confirmed, even if details are still emerging.
  • Clear explanations of what was taken or damaged, what steps are being taken to secure the site and how families can obtain police reports or insurance documentation.
  • A designated point of contact who can answer questions and provide updates.
  • Demonstrated accountability, including temporary repairs to prevent further damage and a plan for restoration or replacement where possible.

Cemeteries serve as both property stewards and custodians of memory. As theft incidents increase, operators are being judged not only on how well they prevent crime, but on how compassionately and transparently they respond when prevention fails.

Cemetery Commission in Massachusetts Seeks $1.3 Million for Expansion

The Erving Cemetery Commission, which oversees Center Cemetery in Erving, Massachusetts, is seeking $1.3 million for expansion as only seven burial plots remain, according to a report in the Greenfield Recorder.

The request for fiscal year 2027 was discussed during a recent joint meeting of the Selectboard, Finance Committee, and Capital Planning Committee. Commission members emphasized the urgency of the project, noting that the 7.5-acre cemetery, located west of Erving Center along Route 2, has very limited remaining capacity.

Plans call for expanding onto land across the street from the existing cemetery near Mountain Road. The project would add approximately 100 new traditional burial plots, establish sections for green burials, and install columbarium niches to accommodate cremated remains. A new driveway is also planned to improve vehicle access.

Some preliminary funding for the project has already been secured. At the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting, voters approved a $1.10 million allocation for nine capital projects, including $200,000 dedicated to the Center Cemetery expansion. Those funds were used to complete the design phase. In addition, $44,052 remains from a $50,000 engineering appropriation approved at the May 2022 Annual Town Meeting. Budget documents from that earlier appropriation indicated that the cemetery had only 57 available grave sites at the time.

Learn more in the full article.

Atlanta Wind Phone Finds Permanent Home at Oakland Cemetery

The Atlanta Wind Phone, which was featured in the public art installation The Space Within at Woodruff Park, will soon be relocated, according to a report by Rough Draft Atlanta.

The Grief House, a nonprofit dedicated to creating supportive spaces and experiences for those navigating loss, has been seeking a permanent location for the phone. The installation provides Atlantans with a meaningful, symbolic way to speak to loved ones who have died.

To that end, the Grief House has partnered with the Historic Oakland Foundation to move the Atlanta Wind Phone to Oakland Cemetery.

According to the Grief House, Oakland Cemetery is a natural gathering place for remembrance and reflection, and the addition of the Atlanta Wind Phone will create a dedicated setting for grief, healing, and remembrance grounded in both history and intention.

“The Atlanta Wind Phone aligns beautifully with Oakland’s mission, as the grounds remind us daily that loss, memory, and legacy are woven into our collective story,” said Dr. Richard Harker, president and CEO of the Historic Oakland Foundation. “By collaborating with the Grief House, we are offering the community a peaceful and welcoming space to express grief, further strengthening Oakland’s role as a place of connection and healing.”

Read more.

Maryland Lawmakers Pledge to Restore Long-Neglected Burial Ground for Black Youth

Maryland lawmakers are moving to reclaim and restore a forgotten cemetery where hundreds of Black boys who died in state custody were buried, many in unmarked or deteriorating graves hidden by decades of neglect, according to a report by Maryland Matters.

Tucked into dense woods in southern Prince George’s County, the burial site contains the remains of approximately 230 Black youths who died at the former House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, which operated from the late 19th century into the early 20th century. Lawmakers and advocates believe as many as 100 additional graves may exist, marked only by cinder blocks that have sunk into the ground over time.

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland recently toured the overgrown area, pushing through brush, weeds, and thorny undergrowth to view the site firsthand. Some headstones lie flat and partially obscured by leaves and debris, their inscriptions worn by time. In other sections, formal markers are entirely absent, replaced by rows of cinder blocks that serve as the only indication that lives were lost and buried there.

The stark condition of the burial ground is made even more striking by its proximity to the immaculately maintained Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, which sits directly next door. Lawmakers noted the sharp contrast between the care afforded to one site and the neglect endured by the other.

The caucus is now pursuing legislation aimed at restoring the cemetery and ensuring the boys buried there are treated with dignity. Lawmakers are also considering the creation of a commission to examine the circumstances surrounding the youths’ deaths while in state custody.

Initial funding may come through a $31,000 grant application submitted by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to the African American Heritage Preservation Program. The funds would be used to begin clearing and restoring the wooded burial area near the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center, which is currently operated by the department. If approved, additional funding for cemetery restoration and repair could be included in the state’s next capital budget, according to the governor’s office.

State officials have emphasized the importance of preserving overlooked chapters of Maryland’s history and have signaled a willingness to work with lawmakers, agencies, and community advocates to address the site’s condition.

Read the full article.

Volunteers Work to Restore Woodlawn Cemetery in Michigan

Woodlawn Cemetery, the only known Black cemetery in Washtenaw County in Michigan, which is located at the end of a quiet, dead-end road in Ypsilanti, is now the focus of a major restoration effort.

Decades of overgrowth have hidden headstones beneath trees, brush, and scrub vegetation. To date, volunteers have uncovered about 60 graves and hope to locate all remaining burial sites by next year, Bridge Michigan reported.

The project is driven by a desire to honor ancestors and confront the realities of the past, ensuring that the community better understands its full history and reflects the diversity of those who lived there.

Established in 1946 by the Rev. Garther Roberson Sr. of Second Baptist Church, Woodlawn was one of the few burial options available to Black residents in the county at the time. After Roberson’s death in 1955, ownership transferred to his wife, Estella Roberson, and Mrs. Booker Rhonenee. Financial difficulties followed, and the cemetery fell into bankruptcy and was abandoned by 1965, according to historical records.

The restoration is being made possible in part by $30,000 in county funding over two years, awarded to the Historic District Commission. Volunteers have been clearing trees and dense vegetation, revealing headstones and handmade grave markers that had been concealed for decades.

The effort reflects a broader national movement to reclaim abandoned Black cemeteries, many of which remain undocumented or neglected. While some historic African American burial grounds in Michigan, such as Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery, have been preserved, others like Woodlawn faded from public awareness.

The project brings together multiple organizations, including the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County, the Historic District Commission, and Ypsilanti Township. Leaders say descendants of those buried at Woodlawn will play a key role in shaping the cemetery’s future and how its story is told.

Read the full article.

Windham Township Trustees Approve Columbarium Purchase, Set 2026 Priorities at First Meeting of the Year

The Windham Township Board of Trustees in Windham, Ohio, recently agreed to move forward with buying a columbarium for the township cemetery, the Weekly Villager reported.

Trustees discussed the growing preference for cremation and the financial advantages it offers residents compared to traditional burial, noting that cremation niches are more affordable than installing burial pads and headstones. The board agreed that the investment aligns with current burial trends and community needs.

The proposed columbarium will be purchased from Portage Marble & Granite and installed in an area of the cemetery that cannot be used for ground burials due to persistent moisture issues. Trustees emphasized that this approach would allow otherwise unusable land to serve a purpose without sacrificing burial space.

After reviewing available options, the board selected a double-sided columbarium with 96 compartments. The structure measures just over 78 inches in height, 111 inches in length, and 32½ inches in depth, with a total cost of $35,306. Fiscal Officer Casey Timmons explained that the township could fund the purchase either through the general fund or the cemetery fund. A motion to proceed with the purchase was approved unanimously.

Read the full article.


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