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Advocates make headway on state veterans cemetery

Press-Republican - 12/3/2017

Dec. 03--PLATTSBURGH -- After decades of fighting to establish a New York state veterans cemetery, advocates are closer than ever to achieving that goal.

But it will still be about 10 years before burials are taking place there.

That's according to Steve Bowman, director of the Clinton County Veterans Service Agency, which has been working toward that goal since the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base closed in 1995.

He is working with state government officials and the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs on an application that would pave the way for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to build the cemetery in Plattsburgh.

LAND DONATION

In October, a 35-acre chunk of land on Cumberland Head was surveyed and deemed appropriate for the cemetery site.

Ann Wilhart, a descendant of famed naval commander Thomas Macdonough, had agreed to donate the land in 2010. Now the paperwork just needs to be processed.

"That could happen tomorrow, or it could take a year," Bowman said.

He worked with state lawmakers to secure a $15,000 grant to pay for the survey, and before that, he helped pass a 2016 law that paved the way for the measure.

Still, New York might have to wait in line: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is working with 35 other states to establish or expand their second, or in some cases third or fourth, state or Native American cemeteries, and New York isn't necessarily at the top of that list.

STICKING WITH IT

Once the cemetery is built, it would be turned over and maintained by New York state, which requires staff and an operating budget for burials and maintenance.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would reimburse some of that money, Bowman said, to the tune of about $750 for every burial in the cemetery.

"In working through this legislative process for the last 13 years, we've come to realize that nothing happens quickly," he said.

"Sometimes, it's painful and discouraging, but if you want to complete a task like this, it takes perseverance. I'm going to stick with it until it's done."

'WHERE'S THE PRIDE?'

Plattsburgh veteran Robert St. Maur has been right there with Bowman for the last 10 years, lobbying for a cemetery, sending letters to politicians and researching state cemeteries.

He's written four books on the subject.

"New York became a state in July 1788, and we have yet to see a cemetery here," St. Maur said. "Now, it's time.

"This is the home of the West Point Academy. We train them here. We send them off to battle. They come home missing arms and legs, and we don't have a place to bury them when they die.

"Where's the pride in that?"

'WOULD SPUR GROWTH'

The Empire State is one of just four that still do not have a state cemetery, along with Alaska, Florida and Oregon.

About 45,000 veterans live in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties. The nearest national cemetery is in Saratoga, and a certain percentage of that population can't get there, Bowman said.

"But nothing happens overnight when you're dealing with the federal government," he said. "Hopefully, I'm still around to see the ribbon-cutting and the opening of the cemetery."

He thinks a Plattsburgh-based cemetery would spur the growth of others across the state.

A 2006 state feasibility study identified areas near Sampson State Park, Richmond County, Western New York, Watertown and the lower Hudson Valley as possible other sites.

Email Bob Bennett:

bbennett@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: @BobBennett3

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