Local veterans say they are appreciative that the Upper Cumberland will soon start construction on its own regional veterans cemetery.
Celina’s American Legion Post 18 Member Jed Donaldson, said local veterans are thrilled to finally have a veterans cemetery in the region. Donaldson said most veterans wanted a cemetery, but not so they can be recognized.
“We all did our time, and we did our service to the country, but the main thing is we don’t want to be forgotten,” Donaldson said. “And these veteran cemeteries, whether it’s state or national, they are just well taken care of.”
Crossville’s American Legion Post 163 Commander Mike Ratterman said having a veterans cemetery in the Upper Cumberland has been something on the radar in Cumberland County for quite a while. Ratterman said many veterans will now have the chance to be buried next to other veterans from the region
“You always are looking out for your fellow veterans,” Ratterman said. “It’s just part of the… It’s ingrained into you when you join the military that you don’t leave people behind, and you always look out for your fellow veterans and your fellow troops.”
The new facility will be built in White County. Currently, the closest veterans cemetery that has open spots is on the west side of Nashville. Donaldson said it is great to know that veterans can now be buried in a veterans cemetery without having leave the region they call home.
“You know, it’s a pretty good drive for families if they ever want to go and visit the graves or anything like that,” Donaldson said. “So you know, it’s just so much closer.”
Donaldson said veteran cemeteries make people emotional when they visit, and he hopes this cemetery will give the same feeling. Ratterman said he believes a lot of veterans in the region will want to be buried there.
“You know, Cumberland County, the upper plateau in general is a very large veteran population, so the fact that it had not been here sooner is really kind of shocking. But Cumberland County has one of the highest veteran populations in the state of Tennessee, so I think there will be a lot of interest in it.”
The veterans cemetery will be built on an estimated 127-acre property on Country Club Road, just east of downtown Sparta. The federal government awarded an estimated $7.5 million to the region earlier this week.