BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) - On this 100th anniversary of Veterans Day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he is introducing legislation to streamline the process for establishing New York's first State Veterans Cemetery.
A committee chaired by the Director of the New York State Division of Veterans' Services will also work to develop an action plan and determine the location of the cemetery.
"New York is one of only a few states nationwide that does not have a State Veterans Cemetery," Cuomo said in a statment. "Veterans and their families have advocated for it for many years, but any site considered must first set aside 15 years' worth of perpetual care costs prior to moving forward with the selection process."
That is why the governor is introducing legislation to streamline the process for accessing federal funding necessary to move forward, including the committee, which will determine the location of the cemetery.
"New York's Veterans and their families earned the honor of having a revered and sacred final resting place," said State Division of Veterans' Services Director Col. (U.S. Army, Ret.) Jim McDonough. "In death, as in life, they deserve nothing less than our highest esteem and our everlasting tributes."
This summer, Sen. Chuck Schumer announced more than $23 million to establish Phase 1 of a Western New York Veterans Cemetery in Pembroke. That will be closer to Western New Yorkers than the Veterans Cemetery in Bath, New York.
Nearly 750,000 veterans live in New York State.