OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska -- The Department of Veterans Affairs will formally dedicate the new Omaha National Cemetery in a ceremony at 10 a.m.2 Friday, Aug. 5 at the SumTur Amphitheater in Papillion, Nebraska.
The ceremony at SumTur is open to the public and will include the unveiling of the dedication plaque.
During the ceremony, the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band will provide music, sing the national anthem and provide taps. The Offutt AFB Joint Color Guard will present the colors as veteran James Skaja recites the pledge of allegiance. Omaha VA Medical Center Chaplain Shane Van Dorin will give a prayer of dedication, and the Nebraska Army National Guard will be on hand to present a rifle salute.
Parking for the general public is available at the LaVista-Papillion High School. Mobility-impaired users with handicap tags will have special parking at SumTur Amphitheater.
The new 236-acre cemetery will serve the burial needs of more than 112,000 Veterans. The property is located along South 144th St. (Highway 50), at 14250 Schram Road in Sarpy County. When it is complete, the cemetery will serve veterans, spouses and eligible dependents in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa not currently served by an open national, state or tribal veteran’s cemetery within 75 miles of their residence.
Burial in a national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty or training duty, or were eligible for retired pay, may also be eligible for burial. A veteran’s spouse, widow or widower, minor dependent children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the veteran.
For information on VA burial benefits, visit www.cem.va.gov or call (800) 827-1000.
For a listing of all national, state and tribal cemeteries, visit http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/listcem.asp