Idaho State Veterans Cemetery Explained

Idaho State Veterans Cemetery
Location:Boise, Idaho
Country:United States
Type:State
Size Acre:76.5
Findagraveid:1991085

The Idaho State Veterans Cemetery is a 76.5acres military cemetery in Boise, Idaho. It opened in 2004, making Idaho the last state to build a veterans cemetery.

History

In 2004, the cemetery opened as the first veterans cemetery in Idaho, which was the last state to build one.[1] [2] The 76.5acres project cost $8.2 million (equivalent to $ million in), which the federal government paid.[3] [4]

The cemetery's first internment was soldier Brandon Titus, who was killed in action in the Iraq War in 2004. He received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.[5] [6]

Discrimination criticism

In 2014, the cemetery faced criticism for not allowing lesbian veteran Madelynn Taylor to plan for her cremated remains to be buried with those of her deceased wife, Jean Mixner, who died in 2012. Idaho governor Butch Otter released a statement that the cemetery required a valid marriage certificate and that Idaho did not recognize same-sex marriage.[7] After Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage was lifted on October 15, 2014,[8] Taylor was awarded $70,000 in legal fees from the state's Constitutional Defense Fund.[9] In July 2015, a judge ordered Taylor's ashes would be buried with Mixner's upon death.[10]

Statue by Benjamin Victor

See main article: I will have your back always.... As part of a Memorial Day ceremony on May 29, 2021, I will have your back always..., a bronze statue by Benjamin Victor, was unveiled at the cemetery. This event was postponed from November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The statue depicts two soldiers, with a male soldier resting on his knees holding dog tags and a female soldier holding her hand on his back. The woman is intended to portray a sense of readiness and protection while the man mourns.[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: Feinberg . Teddy . May 27, 2024 . Idaho veterans cemetery recognizes Memorial Day, pays tribute to those killed in action . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719025115/https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-veterans-cemetery-recognizes-memorial-day-pays-tribute-to-those-killed-in-action/article_1f0ade86-1c6e-11ef-b5f9-27a8fdf2696d.html . July 19, 2024 . July 18, 2024 . .
  2. Book: Hearing Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, One Hundred Ninth Congress . April 20, 2005 . . 978-0-16-075553-8 . 6 . en . July 18, 2024 . . July 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719001701/https://books.google.com/books?id=gB1BFAzWGvQC&pg=PA6 . live .
  3. News: Miller . Ken . March 15, 2004 . Final stage of veterans' cemetery begins in northwest Boise . subscription . July 18, 2024 . Idaho Business Review . Dolan Media . Boise, Idaho . .
  4. Web site: Idaho State Veterans Cemetery – Boise . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719025328/https://veterans.idaho.gov/cemeteries/boise-cemetery/ . July 19, 2024 . July 18, 2024 . Idaho Division of Veterans Services .
  5. News: McHenry . Chuck . August 25, 2004 . Remembering Brandon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719025406/https://www.idahopress.com/boiseweekly/news/local_and_state/remembering-brandon/article_bee8c0fb-8dac-5017-851d-4d407632793b.html . July 19, 2024 . July 18, 2024 . .
  6. News: Aresvik . Ruth . January 18, 2022 . The Veterans' Press: Hearts of Bronze: Idaho State Veterans Cemetery . July 18, 2024 . . July 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240718225154/https://cdapress.com/news/2022/jan/18/veterans-press-hearts-bronze-idaho-state-veterans-/ . live .
  7. News: April 23, 2014 . Gay veteran: 'Ashes of a couple old lesbians isn't going to hurt anyone' . July 18, 2024 . . Boise, Idaho . July 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719001703/https://idahonews.com/news/local/gay-veteran-ashes-of-a-couple-old-lesbians-isnt-going-to-hurt-anyone-11-16-2015 . live .
  8. Web site: Russell . Betsy Z. . October 13, 2014 . 9th Circuit lifts stay on gay marriage in Idaho . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141015034447/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/oct/13/idaho-attorney-general-drops-opposition-stay-gay-m/ . October 15, 2014 . July 18, 2024 . .
  9. News: Kruesi . Kimberlee . October 7, 2015 . Idaho to spend $70K in legal fees to pay for Madelynn Taylor case . July 18, 2024 . . . July 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719001700/https://idahonews.com/news/local/idaho-to-spend-70k-in-legal-fees-to-pay-for-madelynn-taylor-case . live .
  10. News: Leber . Jake . July 12, 2015 . Gay veteran's burial battle laid to rest . July 18, 2024 . . Boise, Idaho . July 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719001702/https://idahonews.com/news/local/gay-veterans-burial-battle-laid-to-rest . live .
  11. News: Komatsoulis . Carolyn . June 5, 2021 . 'A special place': Local artist reflects on Boise and new veteran's sculpture . July 18, 2024 . .

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