North Alabama’s Second Veteran’s Cemetery Under Construction
Construction is underway on a cemetery designed to give North Alabama veterans a place to be laid to rest closer to home.
Project aims to close gap in burial benefits access
By Will Eldridge
Published: Oct. 16, 2026 at 1:06 AM GMT+2
| Updated: 7 hours ago |
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MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) - Construction is underway on a cemetery designed to give North Alabama veterans a place to be laid to rest closer to home.
Officials said North Alabama veterans have lacked access to burial benefits for years.
"So many years ago, the National Cemetery Administration identified this area as being a shortfall for veteran burial benefits. And for many years we knew this. And this federal money was not available for constructing new cemeteries," said Jeffery Newton, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.
The only other state-operated veterans cemetery is in Spanish Fort. A national cemetery is located in Montevallo.
Event space planned alongside cemetery
The Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery - North Alabama will include an event space where veterans and their families can gather.
"Some of the ceremonies that we have throughout the year include, you know, ceremonies like today. Of course, Memorial Day. We have Wreaths Across America. We have Veterans Day, Memorial Day. We will have a 150 to 200 person amphitheater to help house these events that I just spoke about," Newton said.
Burial plots free for veterans, families
The plots are open to honorably discharged veterans, their spouses, and dependents free of charge, including those in the National Guard.
Construction is expected to take a little over a year.