By Daniel Stefanski |
Last week, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services (ADVS) announced that “Arizona National Guardsmen and Reservists (would be) eligible for burial in Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemeteries beginning in 2024.” The cemeteries participating in these burials are Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana and Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo.
Dana Allmond, the ADVS Cabinet Executive Officer, stated, “Honoring all of our service members and their families equally from every branch and component of the military is fundamental to our commitment to ensure there are no barriers to the benefits and services they have earned.”
The release from ADVS shared that this development “is the result of the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act signed by President Biden in 2022, and the passage of HB 2670 by the Arizona Legislature back in July which allows for all Non-Veteran National Guard and Reserve members to be interred at ADVS Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemeteries.”
HB 2670 was sponsored by Arizona State Representative Stacey Travers. The bill sailed through both chambers of the legislature earlier this year with broad bipartisan support, and it was signed into law by Governor Hobbs on August 1. Hobbs expressed her pride in signing this legislation, writing, “I was proud to sign this bill and support Arizona veterans. Those who put their lives on the line for our country deserve the best and I will continue working to ensure they get what they need.”
Representative Travers responded to the governor’s affirmation of her efforts, saying, “Veterans issues are, and should always be nonpartisan. Thank you Governor Hobbs for signing, and to all my colleagues in the legislature who voted for this important piece of legislation.”
According to the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, “families interested in interment at an Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery” are encouraged to submit “an application for pre-determination for burial,” which can be filled out online. ADVS added that “cemetery staff at Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery and Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo will hold applications and begin reaching out to families to make burial arrangements after 1/1/2024.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
