The Tennessee Department of Veteran Services received official notification it has qualified for a grant that will fully fund the development and construction of a new Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery in White County.
The notification comes from the National Cemetery Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Upper Cumberland Veterans Cemetery Association has been instrumental in planning the project since 2013, working in close partnership with state Department of Veterans Services in securing funding, selecting the site, and advocating for the establishment of the cemetery.
“We extend our gratitude to the Upper Cemetery State Veteran Cemetery Association for their tireless advocacy and collaboration in making this vital project a reality,” said Tommy Baker, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services. “This full funding opportunity from the National Cemetery Administration underscores the strong federal-state partnership dedicated to honoring our nation’s heroes and will provide essential burial services to Veterans and their families in the region, while maintaining the exceptional standards that have earned all of Tennessee’s state-run cemeteries the Operational Excellence Award.”
This project is made possible through the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, which requires funds to be obligated by Sept. 30, 2026.
The grant covers all costs associated with planning, design, construction, and initial operations of the new facility. The Tennessee Department of Veterans Services is working closely with the Department of General Services and federal National Cemetery Administration partners to meet this timeline.
The state has purchased 127.49 acres of land on Country Club Road in White County to serve as the site for this cemetery. More details on the project schedule will be provided as planning progresses, a written statement from the state said.
Once operational, the cemetery will become the sixth state-run veterans cemetery in Tennessee, further strengthening the network that provides no-cost burials for eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependents.
The Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery will join the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at John Sevier and the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at Lyons View, both in Knoxville; the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Nashville; the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Memphis; and the Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at Parkers Crossroads in West Tennessee.
Visit www.tn.gov/veteran or www.cem.va.gov/grants for more about Tennessee’s veterans cemeteries.