Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery Dedication on 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor
December 29, 2011
By Jim Suydam, Veterans Land Board, Austin
Texas Veterans turned the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor into a celebration on Dec. 7 as hundreds gathered to dedicate the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.
“We are here today to consecrate this land for our Texas Veterans,” said Jerry Patterson, chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB). “Today, this site becomes hallowed ground in honor of their sacrifices.”
Veterans eligible for free burial in the newest Texas State Veterans Cemetery were joined by elected officials, community leaders and top military brass drawn together to praise the accomplishment. The keynote speaker was retired U.S. Army Gen. Marc Cisneros. Ram Chavez and the Corpus Christi Veterans Band provided inspiring patriotic melodies and a surprise flyover by Training Air Wing 4 out of NAS Corpus Christi thrilled attendees.
The Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery is the result of years of hard work and cooperation. It started as a 54-acre field donated by Flint Hills Resources. Over the last year the VLB has transformed the field with an $8.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs into a Veterans cemetery.
Burial at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery is a privilege that can not be bought, only earned through service. Veterans and their immediate family are eligible.
The cemetery will be developed in phases and upon completion, will have more than 31,500 grave sites. The first phase of construction will create 4,808 grave sites. The grounds provide a committal shelter for services with full military honors. A memorial walkway will provide space for future memorials. A memorial wall will provide space to honor those whose remains are elsewhere. The spirit of service and patriotism lives everywhere at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.
“Take pride in the ground you stand on today,” Patterson said. “Your commitment to our veterans built these hallowed grounds into a resting place worthy of their sacrifice.”
The VLB will own and operate the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery under VA guidelines with continued coordination of VA benefits available to veterans upon death.
All burial benefits that eligible Veterans are entitled to, such as burial flags, grave markers, Presidential Memorial Certificates, or military honors, will be available at Texas State Veterans Cemeteries.
Since taking office in 2003, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has overseen the expansion of state Veterans services, including the construction of the state’s first three Texas State Veterans Cemeteries, which were built in Killeen, Mission and Abilene.
Texas State Veterans Cemeteries will coordinate with U.S. Department of Defense units or Veterans Service Organizations in nearby communities for military honors at Veterans’ burials.
The rules for eligibility are the same as those for national cemeteries. Overall eligibility for burial is determined by VA regulations based on a variety of qualifying criteria, many of which may apply to a Veteran’s periods of service on active duty or while in the Guard or Reserves. To ascertain eligibility, please review the regulations on the VA website at http://www.cem.va.gov/bbene/eligible.asp, or call a VA benefits counselor toll-free at 1-800-827-1000, or ask the Texas Veterans Commission or your county Veterans Service Officer for assistance.
The spouse or surviving spouse and dependent children of an eligible Veteran are also eligible under current VA regulations.
The dedication ceremony was webcast live by Flint Hills Resources, and can be seen at www.CoastalBendDedication.com.
To learn more about the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery, visit http://www.glo.texas.gov/vlb/veterans-benefits/veterans-cemeteries/corpus-cemetery.html.
Photo provided by the Veterans Land Board, Austin
TVC Vice Chair Commissioner Al Cantu addresses the attendees at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery dedication, on the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor.