The Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) welcomed a major milestone for Georgia’s veterans following the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ announcement of a new grant opportunity to support construction of a state veterans cemetery in Augusta. The announcement marks a significant step forward in a project that has been decades in the making and reflects sustained collaboration between state leadership, federal partners, and the Augusta community.

The grant opportunity, administered through the VA’s State Cemetery Grants Program, would provide up to $10 million in federal funding to support construction of a new veterans cemetery in the Augusta area. If awarded, the grant would allow Georgia to expand burial options for the over 66,000 veterans and their eligible family members in East Central Georgia, ensuring dignified, accessible, and lasting honors for those who served.

GDVS has led the effort to advance the Augusta cemetery project, coordinating planning, site development, and grant readiness while working closely with local and federal partners. The Department’s work is built on years of advocacy by Augusta leaders who recognized the growing need for a veterans cemetery to serve the region’s growing veteran population.

Former Augusta Mayor Bob Young, an Air Force and Vietnam War veteran, was among the earliest champions of the project. He first began developing the idea for a veterans cemetery in Augusta in 2000 during his time serving as mayor. His continued advocacy, leadership, and civic experience have kept the idea moving forward and established local momentum for future progress. Augusta Commissioner Don Clark, a retired Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, sustained Young’s efforts with steady engagement and community advocacy, ensuring the cemetery remained a priority for the region.

Today, their legacy of leadership continues with the City of Augusta’s active partnership to establish a new veterans cemetery. GDVS is working closely with the City and its current mayor, Garret Johnson, who has provided a formal letter of support affirming Augusta’s commitment to honoring veterans and supporting the project’s advancement. The City’s engagement underscores the strong backing from federal and state legislative delegations and local veteran service organizations which have been essential to continue the project’s momentum over many years.

“This is a defining opportunity to deliver on a commitment we have owed our veterans and their families for far too long,” said Commissioner Dr. Patricia Ross of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service. “GDVS is proud to partner with the VA and the City of Augusta to move this project forward. A veterans cemetery is more than a facility—it is a lasting promise that Georgia will honor service with dignity, gratitude, and permanence.”

Former Mayor Bob Young emphasized the significance of reaching this stage after years of local work. “This has been a long time coming for Augusta and for the veterans who call this region home,” Young said. “I’m proud of the perseverance shown by GDVS and Augusta leaders across the years. This cemetery will stand as a permanent tribute to the men and women who served—and to the families who stood beside them.”

Once constructed, the Augusta veterans cemetery would become part of Georgia’s statewide veterans cemetery system, expanding capacity and improving geographic access to burial benefits earned through military service. The project also reflects GDVS’s broader mission to ensure veterans receive not only benefits and services, but enduring recognition for their sacrifice.

As the grant process moves forward, GDVS will continue coordinating with the VA and local stakeholders to position Georgia for success. For Augusta and the surrounding region, the announcement signals meaningful progress on a promise decades in the making—one grounded in service, partnership, and respect for those who wore the uniform.

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About GDVS:

The Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) is not part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, but is an agency of Georgia’s state government created for the purpose of advising, counseling, and assisting Georgia’s veterans and their families in receiving their rightful benefits under the vast and complex framework of veterans’ laws. The GDVS mission, to serve Georgia's veterans and their families in all matters pertaining to veterans benefits, falls into two basic tasks: informing veterans and their families about veterans’ benefits, and directly assisting and advising veterans and their families in securing the federal and state benefits to which they are entitled.

The GDVS has offered assistance to Georgia’s veterans and their families for nearly 100 years. The department serves the state’s nearly 700,000 veterans and their families in all matters pertaining to veterans benefits, including applying for the federal and state veterans benefits they have earned at no cost. The state also offers help through a robust appeals division, 2 war veterans homes, 2 veterans memorial cemeteries, and coordinating services across state agencies to veterans. 

Veterans or their family members should contact their local field office to schedule an appointment. 

Locate a veterans service office near you at:  https://veterans.georgia.gov/field-offices.