Surge In Vet Deaths Spurs Cemetery Project
POSTED: 8:40 pm MST April 2,
2009
UPDATED: 9:30 am MST April 3,
2009
PHOENIX -- Sgt. Maj. John Wiegel served in the Army for 26 years and fought in two wars, and on Thursday he received one last salute."We did over 3,000 interments here last year; we're a busy place," said Wayne Ellis, director of the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.Right now American military veterans are passing away at one of the highest rates in the country's history. "World War II vets, Korean War vets -- we're starting to see a lot of Vietnam vets right now too," said Ellis.It's forcing the military cemeteries across the country to find a more efficient use of space."By doing open-field burials like we do now, we get 700 grave sites per acre. This new way gives me almost 1,000 grave sites per acre," Ellis said.The new way involves giant concrete crypts. Each one holds four caskets, which is enough for two veterans and their spouses.In all, the project will add nearly 8,000 new grave sites to the cemetery.Ellis hopes it will be enough for the next five years."We're the last ones to give an honor to these people, and we take great honor in that ourselves," he said.
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