GRAYLING – The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) recently released their State Cemetery Report, which a group of local veterans supporters had been eagerly anticipating.
Earlier this year, this same group organized a wreath laying ceremony at a military cemetery atop Johnson Hill, at Hanson Hills.
“We received the state report and were sadly disappointed by the findings,” said Crawford County Commissioner Carey Jansen.
The DMVA had outlined plans for a feasibility study for state-operated veterans cemetery in Michigan, which locals are hoping will land in Crawford County.
The DMVA stated that they, “. . . do not have the operational or budgetary capabilities to support the efforts necessary to further develop the feasibility and economic studies needed to determine actual and true costs associated with establishing a state veteran cemetery system here in Michigan.”
A local proponent of the cemetery, Wayne Koppa, said he is disappointed by the news, but plans to submit a supplement report to the state the first of the year.
Jansen is optimistic.
“We hope to establish an endowment fund at the county to assist with uncovered expenses for the internment of our veterans and their spouses and for the future maintenance of a state operated veterans cemetery in Crawford County,” she added.
For more information contact Koppa at 989-370-5757.
