New Veterans cemetery opening next to Fort Jackson

New Veterans cemetery opening next to Fort Jackson

Updated: Oct 26, 2008 05:29 PM EDT

New Veterans cemetery opening next to Fort Jackson

FORT JACKSON, SC (WIS) - There are nearly 3 million grave sites in military national cemeteries across the nation and on Sunday, Fort Jackson became part of that special group.

"Today we give witness to a promise made and a commitment kept," William Tuerk, the memorial affairs secretary, said.

That commitment is a new Veterans National Cemetery opening up next to Fort Jackson. Fifteen acres are now complete, but the goal is to expand to 585 acres.

Cuy Brooks served in the Marines in World War II. He's seen the dedication of veterans around him, and hates knowing the greatest generation vets are quickly disappearing.

"These veterans should be given preference because they gave a lot, some gave their life and that was it," Brooks said.

Fort Jackson became the nation's 125th National Veterans Cemetery -- a tradition of honoring America's finest that's been a long standing one.

"It was a promise that was made at the height of the Civil War by President Abraham Lincoln when he ordered that national resting places be established to honor as he said the soldiers who shall die in the service to the country," Tuerk said.

Reported by Brian DeRoy

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Well my wife and I now have a lace for eternal rest less than 15 minutes from our home, there is something special about being buried among other people that all have the same thing in common uniformed service to this great nation, with our spouses. It is a comforting feeling, my parents are buried in Riverside National cemetary, my step father served in Korea and WW2 and he is among his peers. It is a bueatiful and very scenic location there near March Field, now a National Guard Air Force base, it use to be home to B-52s during the Cold War and many of the nations nuclear arsenal, I also remember getting caught on the base many times when President Nixon use to land Air Force One there on his way to San Clemente.

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