National Veterans Cemetery Could Come to Magic Valley

HANSEN, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is evaluating proposed sites for a national veterans cemetery in south-central Idaho.

Idaho has a State Veterans Cemetery in Boise and there are a few privately operated veterans cemeteries, but no national veterans cemeteries in Idaho.

Two years ago, the VA announced a plan to build National Veterans Burial Grounds in rural areas. Scouts were in the Twin Falls area last November looking for potential site. Magic Valley Honor Guard leader Wayne Goetz says they were looking for 3 to 5 acres of land.

Glenn Madderom is chief of cemetery development for the VA's National Cemetery Administration. He tells The Times-News (http://bit.ly/1pWRKjP) that 14,000 veterans live within a 75-mile radius of Twin Falls.

Madderom says the cemetery could be ready for burials about two years after a site is chosen.

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