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| Wilson continues push for National Cemetery in Albuquerque area |
June 06, 2001 |
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Legislation coincides with D-DayAnniversary
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson wants to pave the way for a new National Cemetery in the Albuquerque area for New Mexico veterans. Today, she introduced legislation that directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to begin the lengthy project. Today represents the 57th Anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy to free Europe from Nazi control. Thousands of U.S. servicemen lost their lives in that battle, and Wilson has recognized dozens of survivors in Albuquerque since being elected.
Veterans groups have long pushed for a national cemetery in central New Mexico with the knowledge that the cemetery in Santa Fe is quickly reaching capacity. Veteran leaders have worked closely with Wilson, the first female veteran to serve in Congress, to establish such a facility.
“One of the promises this country made to those who have served is that they would be placed with their comrades when they died,” said Wilson. “This new cemetery will ensure that we continue to honor that promise to New Mexico`s veterans. Fifty-seven years ago today, on D-Day, the United States and our allies launched the largest amphibious assault in military history. Thousands of our servicemen and women died. Others, like the hundreds of veterans I’ve visited with in Albuquerque, survive today and want to know that their sacrifices will be remembered and honored. They deserve this final measure of respect.”
The legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report that sets a schedule for the establishment of a national cemetery in the Albuquerque area. The bill does not require a specific location, but Wilson expects that land owned by federal, state or local government, or by private owners willing to donate the land will be given higher priority in the site selection process.
“America has long shown its final measure of respect for our veterans of military service by providing burial plots and markers in national cemeteries. In New Mexico, the national cemetery in Santa Fe, which opened in 1868, is expected to be at full capacity as early as 2008. This is troubling to me and many veterans because the only other national cemetery in the state is near Silver City, far from the population center of greater Albuquerque,” said Wilson, herself an Air Force veteran.
Recently, Wilson met with Secretary Anthony Principi, head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to discuss the need for a new national cemetery in the Albuquerque area. Wilson has also requested $400,000 in next year’s budget to conduct planning design and site selection for the cemetery.
Last year, Congresswoman Wilson won approval of a provision that required the Department of Veterans Affairs to begin an official study of the need for a new national cemetery in the Albuquerque area. The study, now underway by a contractor to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, is the first step in establishing a national cemetery for when the Santa Fe facility reaches capacity and closes to new burials.
There are almost 200,000 veterans currently living in New Mexico. Nationally, 535,000 veterans were buried in national cemeteries in 1996 and interments are expected to grow yearly and peak in 2008 at 620,000.
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