Originally published: 2024-06-20T18:00:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will begin building a new national cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2025. The cemetery will be named Albuquerque National Cemetery and will be the third national cemetery in the state.
“Albuquerque National Cemetery will serve nearly 78,000 Veterans,” said Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters. “We are pleased to extend access to VA burial benefits for Veterans in the Santa Fe/Albuquerque area and provide them with a final resting place in honor of their service to the nation.”
The name Albuquerque National Cemetery was selected after VA solicited input from local Veterans and community leaders, and is consistent with the requirements in Title 38 United States Code § 531 requiring VA property to be named for the geographic area in which the facility is located.
VA purchased the 230 acres of land adjacent to the Petroglyph National Monument, due west of Albuquerque, in March 2023 for $2,840,706. When complete, the new cemetery will offer options for casketed and cremation burials. Consistent with the surrounding desert environment, the cemetery will be designed and built with water-wise landscaping, including finely crushed granite as ground cover in the burial sections. Similar landscaping can be found at VA’s national cemeteries in El Paso, Texas, Phoenix, Arizona and Bakersfield, California.
VA operates 155 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers’ lots and monument sites across the nation. Over 5.4 million people — including 4.1 million Veterans of every war and conflict — are buried in VA national cemeteries.
Stay informed on the development and opening of the Albuquerque National Cemetery by signing up for email updates. For information about VA burial benefits, visit VA burial benefits and memorial items, visit one of VA’s national cemetery locations in-person, or call toll free at 800-827-1000. To plan for you and your family, visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
