By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for land for a new veterans cemetery in Western New York.
US Senator Charles Schumer and the region's veterans have been pushing for such a cemetery. For now, the closest one is in Steuben County, more than 100 miles from Buffalo.
"Western New York is a very patriotic place with a large concentration of aging veterans, and it is high time we built a resting place, right here, for those veterans, yet we have not been able to convince multiple administrations of this fact," said Schumer. "This is yet another hard fought victory for WNY's veterans, who have already dedicated so much and won so many battles for their nation.
"Thankfully that fight is almost at an end."
Graves within national cemeteries get perpetual care and a headstone or marker, while families are given a burial flag and presidential memorial certificate.
Parts of the new cemetery would open by 2013.