by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
After years of political wrangling, the Northeast Florida area is much closer to seeing a local Veteran’s Administration cemetery become reality.
Dan McCarthy, the veterans services officer for the City, said the new 500-acre cemetery on the Northside near the airport could be open for ceremonies by late this year or very early in 2009. Overseeing the project will be Arleen Vincenty, who is currently the director of the National Cemetery in Puerto Rico. McCarthy said Vincenty — who was appointed by Cemetery Development Coordinator Bill Jayne — will serve as the director of the Jacksonville VA cemetery.
“Bill said she is coming to Jacksonville at the end of the month for good,” said McCarthy. “She will begin to put her team together and do the community outreach that’s appropriate.”
Part of that community outreach is determining a name for the cemetery. McCarthy said two proposals have drawn the most support: Jacksonville National Veterans Administration Cemetery and Northeast Florida VA National Cemetery. Both names, per the rules regulating the naming of a VA cemetery (see box) are acceptable.
“There are very strict rules,” said McCarthy. “It must have the acronym VA in it and names are not allowed.
“A number of veterans have called me and suggested we include the word heroes or patriots. None of that is possible.”
McCarthy said Jayne assured him the long-awaited project was being fast-tracked in an effort to open the cemetery by the end of the year.
“Hopefully, we will be able to start performing ceremonies for the deceased by the end of the year,” said McCarthy, who assists the local military population with any questions they may have regarding the cemetery including eligibility.
“Arleen will help us understand the rules and eligibility issues,” he said, adding there is no cost for the plot or burial for qualified military personnel.
Brad Thoburn, the City’s director of planning, said the City owns the land and intends to sell it to the Veteran’s Administration. Over the years, the City has acquired the nearly 500 acres for just under half a million dollars. Thoburn said the City is selling it for market value and a recent appraisal had that value at around $6 million. Thoburn said that appraisal has been revised due to some wetlands that are undevelopable and the sale price is likely closer to $5 million.
“We are working through the details with the VA and our Office of General Counsel is doing its due diligence and getting a correct survey,” said Thoburn. “We will introduce legislation to City Council asking them to authorize the mayor to accept the purchase.”
How will it be named?
Consistent with Public Law 105-368 (codified at 38 U.S.C. § 531), a VA facility, structure or real property cannot be named for anything other than the geographic area in which it is located, unless Congress passes a specific law to that effect.
a. National cemeteries may be named only for the geographic area in which the facility is located. Names for new national cemeteries will be based on three criteria:
(1) The name helps identify the location of the cemetery site;
(2) The name has broad appeal to the veteran population; and
(3) The name provides a positive impression through its relation to history, region, community, or other notable geographic features (lake, river, mountain, etc.).
(4) For cemeteries opening after October 2006, the name will include either the full name “Department of Veterans Affairs” or the acronym “VA.”
Responsibility for naming a new national cemetery rests with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
The National Cemetery Administration will:
(1) Collect and coordinate name suggestions from various sources;
(2) Evaluate proposed names against the criteria as set forth above;
(3) Prepare a decision document with recommendations and background for review by the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs.