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Tuesday, May 20, 2003

By The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia area is one of three regions across the country considered in dire need of a veteran's cemetery and could have a national burial ground within four years, federal officials announced yesterday.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi said his department had agreed to reconsider its longtime reluctance to designate a cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania after reviewing census data showing that the region was "inadequately served" by existing burial grounds.

The closest veterans cemetery that accepts casket burials is Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, Pa., about 90 miles west of Philadelphia. Area veterans can also have their cremated remains buried 20 miles away in Beverly National Cemetery in Burlington, N.J.

VA requirements mandate that veterans cemeteries be spaced at least 75 miles apart, but the new census data revealed that there are at least 170,000 veterans in southeastern Pennsylvania "who do not have appropriate access to a burial option within 75 miles," Principi said.

The Philadelphia area, along with central California and southern Florida, are now next in line for new burial grounds. The VA has not developed a budget for the Philadelphia-area cemetery, which is projected to be completed by 2006 or 2007, Principi said.