Veterans Cemetery project receives $7.5 million grant

The Tennessee Department of Veteran Services received official notification from the National Cemetery Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that it has qualified for a grant opportunity that will fully fund the development and construction of the new Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery in White County.

The Upper Cumberland Veterans Cemetery Association has been instrumental in planning the project since 2013, working in close partnership with TDVS to secure funding, select the site and advocate for the establishment of the cemetery. 

According to State Representative Paul Sherrell, the grant will be in the amount of $7.5 million and will go a long way toward moving the Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery project moving forward.  

"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, and TDVS is working closely with the Department of General Services and federal NCA partners to meet this timeline. 

The state has purchased just over 127.49 acres of land on Country Club Rd. in White County to serve as the site for this cemetery. More details on the project schedule will be provided as planning progresses. 

Once operational, it 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 cemeteries are the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at John Sevier, the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at Lyons View, the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, and the Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at Parkers Crossroads.