National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix to remain open during renovations
Sep 23, 2022, 11:15 AM
(National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona Photo)
(National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona Photo)
PHOENIX – A monthslong renovation project is scheduled begin at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix on Monday.
The cemetery at Cave Creek and Pinnacle roads will remain open during the refurbishment.
Staff at the cemetery dedicated to military veterans expect the improvements to the information center, gravesite locator and restrooms to be completed by the end of the year.
“We apologize for the inconvenience, but these upgrades are important to maintain our buildings and infrastructure,” cemetery director Randy Heard said in a press release.
“Veterans and their families have tasked us to care for this sacred site and we take this obligation seriously.”
Portable toilets will be available for visitor use during the refurbishment and gravesites can be found using a QR code displayed on the outside of the building.
Graves can also be located beforehand at the cemetery website.
Burial in a national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
In some instances, a veteran’s spouse, widow or widower, minor dependent children and others may also be eligible for burial on the grounds. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the veteran.
The 225-acre cemetery was created by state law in 1976 and dedicated Dec. 9, 1978.
The cemetery was officially transferred to Veterans Affairs on April 1, 1989. The department spent more than $13 million for improvements in 1999.
