Veterans cemetery: State needs to find the money to keep its promise to veterans

We are trying not to jump to conclusions, but the news that there is no money in the proposed state budget for maintenance of the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery makes us wonder what is going on with the leaders of the General Assembly.

About $200,000 is needed in operating money for the cemetery off Long's Plant Farm Road, but according to the secretary of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, no allocation is contained in the Republican-crafted budget and the cemetery will be forced to close July 1.

When the news of the construction of the cemetery was first announced, there was a great deal of pride generated locally by the project. And it has proven itself to be of service already to many military families in this part of the state.

We know our representatives are patriotic and would not purposefully have left out the money necessary to keep the gates open. But there has been a misunderstanding somewhere along the line. House Majority Leader John Bell says he and others are working now to find the money for the cemetery.

We hope they are successful, and soon. We believe keeping the cemetery gates open is a priority, something we promised our veterans. There were plenty of dignitaries on hand the day the cemetery was dedicated. We wonder if they are as perplexed as we are about the matter.

Published in Editorials on June 25, 2017 9:10 PM