Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs

PROJECT PURPOSE

The ODVA proposes using ARPA funds for the renovation and expansion of the Union Soldiers Cemetery in Oklahoma City (the ?Cemetery?) and expand the cemetery from its present location on the Department of Public Safety Campus to the currently unutilized corner of NE 36th Street and Martin Luther King Avenue. This veterans? cemetery has deep historical roots going back to support for union soldiers at the time of Oklahoma?s early statehood. The Cemetery has reached its functional capacity with approximately 250 burials and is not presently maintained to USDVA Cemetery Standards. Expansion funding will enable the Cemetery to continue serving Oklahoma?s veterans and their families in Central Oklahoma by providing a place of burial with honors among other veterans. This phase of the proposed expansion would add capacity for between 400-800 memorial plaques and approximately 1,940 interments by way of niches for cremains and additional in-ground interment plots. The covered committal shelter and an avenue of flags would raise the honor afforded to Oklahoma?s veterans who are laid to rest in the Cemetery.

EVIDENCE

Central Oklahoma lacks capacity to serve veterans in the only Veterans Cemetery in the Capitol?s area, the Union Soldiers Cemetery in Northeast Oklahoma City. Rehabilitating and expanding the Cemetery, will provide a central location for honorable interment in a cemetery dedicated to honoring veterans and their families. No other dedicated veterans? cemeteries exist in Oklahoma County or any continuous county. The closest dedicated veterans? cemetery is the Seminole Nation and Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 64 miles away in Wewoka. A surge in demand for burial services will occur as the Baby Boomer generation ages, many of whom are Vietnam War veterans.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Veterans and their families are a special community in Oklahoma. They are leaders who give and receive support from all other community groups. Oklahomans have a long history of honoring and recognizing their service. COVID-19 imposed limitations on gathering, including annual veteran honoring events and funeral ceremonies have stolen recognition from Oklahoma?s veterans. Additionally, the health impacts of COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact on veterans because of age and comorbidities. By providing a central location near the Capitol district to bury and honor our military veterans, Oklahoma will continue demonstrating our State?s commitment to honor veterans and elevate the visibility of service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families. The cemetery would have the capability to jointly bury the veteran and his or her spouse in the same manner permitted in federal veterans? cemeteries, underscoring the importance and depth of family support provided to our military members and veterans. COVID has been a time of loss in the statewide veteran?s community. Restoration and expansion of the Union Soldiers Cemetery would recognize those hardships and enable Oklahoma to appropriately honor our veterans in the future?even in another pandemic.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Programmatic success will be measured by (1) demand for services offered including the number of burials, (2) public use of the site for patriotic and veteran honoring ceremonies and events, (3) rehabilitation of the current historical portion of the cemetery, (4) enhanced use of property owned by the State of Oklahoma to create more interest in the area of NE 36th Street and Martin Luther King Avenue, (5) jobs created and maintained as a result of the construction and day-to-day operation of the facility, and (6) success of ODVA?s partnership with veterans service organizations and others on the effort.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding