Tennessee U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) recently announced his work with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in helping secure an expansion of the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
The VA, according to Fleischmann’s office, has purchased property in Meigs County to expand the cemetery.
“We are very excited to have acquired a great piece of property in the Chattanooga area. This will allow us to continue providing a final resting place of honor to the veterans who have served and the family members who sacrificed for their veterans’ service,” VA Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs and retired Army Major General Matt Quinn said in a statement. “I’ve been pleased to meet with Rep Fleischmann a number of times as we worked through the land process, truly appreciating his support as well the support of the entire TN delegation and veteran community.”
The Tennessee congressman said the expansion will allow Chattanooga-area veterans and their families to “continue to be buried with honor for generations to come.”
“For decades, Chattanooga’s veteran community has been rightfully sounding the alarm that the Chattanooga National Cemetery is rapidly running out of space,” Fleischmann said. “In fact, in less than a decade, the current cemetery will be fully at capacity, and there will be no more room for burials – this is why expanding Chattanooga’s National Cemetery is critically important to our veterans and their families.”
“I am so proud to be able to bring America’s newest national cemetery to East Tennessee. I worked diligently with the VA and local leaders to ensure that the expansion of the Chattanooga National Cemetery remained in East Tennessee,” Fleischmann added. “There is no better place in the U.S. to honor our nation’s veterans than the property the VA has chosen in Meigs County. Our nation’s veterans, their families, and their loved ones deserve the best. This includes the best possible place for our nation to honor our heroes and their loved ones. I’m proud to have secured the best new national cemetery for our service members and veterans.”
The cemetery was founded by Maj Gen. George H. Thomas, “The Rock of Chickamauga,” on December 25, 1863, as he issued General Orders No. 296 to commemorate the Battles of Chattanooga.
According to the VA, the cemetery is home to one of five monumental masonry archways that originally served as the formal entrance to national cemeteries found in the South.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Background Photo “Chattanooga National Cemetery” by Workman. CC BY-SA 4.0.
