The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it has received $1.1 million in federal Veterans Affairs money to expand and improve the Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Two grants worth more than $1.1 million will develop two acres and finance 720 columbarium niches, landscaping and other improvements. The money will include raising, realigning and cleaning 2,951 headstones and 279,000 square feet of turf.
The closest open VA national cemetery is in Fayetteville. The state has another veterans cemetery at Birdeye, near Cherry Valley. Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable who have completed a required period of active duty service, their spouses and eligible dependent children may be buried in either state veterans cemetery in Arkansas. UPDATE: The national VA news release listed Fayetteville as the closest "open" national cemetery, but DBI notes in the comments, and the VA's website indicates, that the Fort Smith National Cemetery remains open for burials.