New National Cemetery opens in Canton

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Micky Cordiviola
  • 94th Airlift Wing
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  On April 24, a new 775-acre National Cemetery began accepting burials in Canton, Ga., and is scheduled to serve veterans’ needs for the next 50 years. 

The property was donated by Scott Hudgens, a late World War II veteran who decided that he wanted the land used for the burial of veterans. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs, which is in charge of the cemetery, accepts burial arrangements after death and they do not reserve grave space. Veterans with discharges other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children may all be buried in a national cemetery, regardless of where they live. 

The total acreage is 775, but currently only 130 acres are going to be utilized in phase I. Once this area begins to fill up, then phase II is scheduled to begin. It is estimated that the total completion of the cemetery will take approximately 50 years and should hold the remains of an estimated 80,000 of America’s heroes. 

The Dobbins’ Base Honor Guard and members of the Naval Air Station Atlanta Honor Guard make up a joint team tasked with conducting all honors at the cemetery. 

“The creation of a veterans’ cemetery is long overdue,” said Master Sgt. Bruce See, Honor Guard program superintendent. “This project has been in the planning stages for years. The story of the cemetery had been lingering for so long that people began to almost view it as a myth.” 

The Georgia National Cemetery is the fourth largest national cemetery in the country. The cemetery handles a funeral approximately every 45 minutes. The Dobbins Honor Guard handles an average of 10-15 funerals per week. 

“This cemetery has given many families closure because they were able to move their loved ones from their previous grave site to the national cemetery and grant the deceased’s final wish,” said Sergeant See. 

In addition to an entrance area, an information center, administration and maintenance building, public restrooms, flag plaza and shelters for committal services, the project is scheduled to include a total of 29,000 full-casket gravesites, 3,000 in-ground sites for cremation remains and 3,000 columbaria niches for cremation remains in phase I. For more information about burial and eligibility, contact the cemetery director Sandra Beckley at (866) 236-8159 or sbeckley@cem.va.gov