Acadia National Cemetery Explained

Acadia National Cemetery
Established:2020
Country:United States
Location:Jonesboro, Maine
Coordinates:44.6464°N -67.6617°W
Type:United States National Cemetery
Size:6.2acres
Findagraveid:2701832

Acadia National Cemetery is a 6.2 acre Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) national cemetery located in Washington County, Maine. The cemetery will serve the burial needs of Veterans, their spouses and eligible family members.

History and location

On September 27, 2017, the land at 1799 U. S. Route 1, Jonesboro, Maine was donated to the VA by Worcester Holdings, LLC.[1] Worcester Holdings, LLC was founded by Morrill and Karen Worcester, who also run the nonprofit group Wreaths Across America.[2]

This cemetery will be the second national cemetery in Maine and is part of the VA National Cemetery Administration Rural Initiative to provide access to VA burial benefits for Veterans who reside rural areas and who have not previously had reasonable access to a national or state Veterans cemetery. Togus National Cemetery in Chelsea, Maine, is the only other VA national cemetery in the state and is currently closed to new interments.[1]

A contract to build the cemetery was awarded in August 2018 and is expected to be completed in early 2020.[2] The first phase of cemetery development will offer more than 1,400 casket and cremation spaces. The cemetery will provide burials for caskets, in-ground and columbarium burials for cremations, as well as a memorial wall for remains that are unrecoverable or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science or cremated and remains scattered.[1] The cemetery will have a capacity of 7,086 gravesites when fully constructed.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Acadia National Cemetery Fact Sheet . National Cemetery Administration . U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  2. News: Trotter . Bill . A new veterans cemetery in Washington County will be the 2nd in Maine run by feds . Bangor Daily News . August 25, 2019.
  3. Web site: VA Names New National Cemetery In Maine . National Cemetery Administration . 23 February 2020.