Sarasota National Cemetery

Artist conception of the visitor center at Sarasota National Cemetery

Sarasota National Cemetery is a 295-acre (1.19 km²) United States National Cemetery located near Sarasota, Florida. It was the sixth national cemetery in Florida and is expected to hold over ten burials per day for the next ten years as World War II and Korean veterans pass away.^[1]

History

There are six other national cemeteries in Florida, but the closest, Bay Pines National Cemetery,^[1] is closed to casketed remains. The Veterans Administration was authorized to establish six new burial sites by the National Cemetery Act of 2003. Areas not served by an existing National Cemetery and containing at least 170,000 veteran residents included Bakersfield, California; Birmingham, Alabama; Jacksonville, Florida; Sarasota County, Florida; southeastern Pennsylvania and Columbia-Greenville, South Carolina.^[2]

Groundbreaking and dedication at the 295-acre (1.19 km²) site was held on June 1, 2008^[1] and the first interment was on January 9, 2009.^[3]

Site Status

The facility plan is composed of three phases, but only the first phase has been funded at $27.8 million to accommodate 25,000 burials. Initial construction on those 60 acres (240,000 m²) began in June, 2008 and created space for 18,200 casket burials with 15,200 pre-placed crypts, 7,000 columbarium niches and 500 in-ground cremations. The grounds were consecrated in December, 2008, prior to the first burials. Phase one includes an entrance, roadways within the section, a public information center with restrooms and two solar-powered shelters for committal services during inclement weather. Infrastructure consisting of drainage, landscaping, irrigation and utilities is also being built.^[3] Permanent buildings for administration and maintenance should be completed in 2010.^[1]

Notable monuments

None yet.

Notable interments

None yet.

See also

• United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• United States National Cemetery

Coordinates: 27°14′49″N 82°22′55″W / 27.24700°N 82.38184°W / 27.24700; -82.38184^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Hackett, Kim: [1] Tampa Tribune, May 31, 2008-Sarasota County Veterans Cemetery To Be Dedicated Sunday
2. ^ [2] Department of Veterans Affairs, Burial & Memorials, New National Cemeteries
3. ^ ^{a b} [3] Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, Sarasota National Cemetery factsheet, January 2009
4. ^ [4] Find a Grave, Sarasota National Cemetery

External links

• National Cemetery Administration
• Sarasota National Cemetery