New Procedures at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, Medical Lake
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) State Veterans Cemetery is open and will continue to provide interments for Veterans and eligible individuals. However, WDVA is continuing to adjust its services in light of the best practices urged by the CDC in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result, on Monday, March 30, WDVA will only conduct committal services for groups of 10 or fewer immediate family members in accordance with state directives. Larger groups will be asked to reduce their numbers or be refused service. We appreciate your continued support in communicating and reinforcing this direction.
In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of our employees conducting interments, the cemetery will not accept floral arrangements with interments. Families that wish to place a floral arrangement(s) (limit 2) may do so after 4:30pm on the day of the interment or any time thereafter. This change will be in effect until further notice.
As of March 19, 2020, as a matter of public health and safety, the rendering of military funeral honors, whether by military personnel or volunteer organizations, will not be conducted until further notice at the State Veterans Cemetery.
We are asking for your assistance in communicating the changes in operations to families that have interments scheduled and contact honors providers to cancel their services. Please contact the State Veterans Cemetery for previously scheduled interments as soon as possible if the family wishes to postpone the interment. WDVA will work to schedule a committal or memorial services at a later date for those families that choose to continue with the direct interment or postpone the interment.
Our cemetery remains open to visitors, but we strongly urge all guests to obey local travel restrictions and avoid unnecessary travel. Visitors should expect that certain portions of a cemetery typically open to the public may be closed (for example, public information center). Preneed or At-Need interment applications may be mailed, emailed or faxed. For Burial Assistance or for additional information please contact the cemetery at cemetery@dwa.wa.gov, 509-299-6280, or 509-299-6286 fax.
Unfortunately there will be no public Memorial Day program on Monday May 25, 2020, due to circumstances beyond our control and to comply with social distancing restrictions. We sincerely apologize for the inability to host this annual remembrance event.
For additional information on state and federal responses to COVID-19 please visit https://www.coronavirus.gov, and https://www.governor.wa.gov/.
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DID YOU KNOW
National Cemetery Administration Gravesite Locator
Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker (burials beginning in 1997).
https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/
Mobile app
https://m.va.gov/gravelocator/
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Highway 902 Naming
The Eastern Washington Veterans Task Force initiated a proposal to name State Route 902 from mile marker 0 to 12 the Gold Star Memorial Highway. The term Gold Star is used to identify a servicemember who lost their life in service to their country, the ultimate sacrifice. The designation honors the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging their family’s loss, grief, and continued healing. There is a large population of gold star families residing in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho who have experienced that loss. This proposal recognizes their sacrifices. A number of state elected officials from Eastern Washington has endorsed this request in writing. This proposal has the support of a number of civic and veteran organizations as well.
A formal proposal has been submitted to the Washington State Transportation Commission, which is expected to reconvene as COVID-19 restrictions allow.
Public comments are welcome at sr902namingproposal@gmail.com