decorahnews.com special series: The Iowa Veterans Cemetery is big--but far away

(Part 2 of a 3-part series)

The Iowa Veterans Cemetery is the first federally-funded state-owned and operated veterans cemetery in Iowa.

The cemetery is located approximately 10 miles west of Des Moines and runs south along Interstate 80 in Dallas County near the community of Van Meter.  Interstate signs mark the exit. The cemetery has space for up to 80,000 burials.  Even though it is operated by the State of Iowa, there is no state residency requirement to be interred in the cemetery--veterans from all across the country have been buried there.

But as a practical matter, the use of the cemetery decreases the further away a veteran's family lives.  Van Meter is a four hour drive from Decorah, so not a lot of Winneshiek County veterans have been buried there.

The Iowa Veterans Cemetery was developed and constructed through a federal grant.  That meant the State of Iowa had to agree to always maintain and operate the cemetery according to national standards.  That means that graveside services are not allowed and all funeral and/or chapel services must be held prior to the funeral party arriving at the cemetery.  That's another reason some families of Winneshiek County veterans decide not to use the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

After the committal service at the IOwa Veterans Cemetery, which is held at a central building and not at the burial location, cemetery staff take the casket or cremated remains to a designated location for interment.  The family may visit the burial location--but only after cemetery staff declares it safe.

The same federal regulations will apply to the new Preston, Minnesota veterans cemetery when it opens one year from now--but the half hour trip to Preston, instead of a four-hour trip, is expected to lead to having more families of Winneshiek County veterans decide to bury their loved ones in Preston.