Carol Martin, director of the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, spoke to the Walter Ledet Coffee Club last week about the cemetery. She said the cemetery was opened in 2012 on 204 acres just outside the Fort Polk back gate. “The beautifully maintained grounds have a sense of peace about them,” she said. Presently 16 acres are developed. The cemetery is available free to eligible veterans. Spouses and dependents can be buried for a $750 fee.
Although it is operated under the direction of the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs it is financed by the federal government and meets the standards of the National Cemetery Administration. Martin said there is always a need for volunteer help. The cemetery serves the veterans of central Louisiana, but any veteran can be buried there. There is also a veteran’s cemetery in Keithville.
There are upright granite headstone for casketed burials, flat granite markers for in-ground burial cremated cremains, granite niche covers for columbarium inurnment and granite plaques for scattered ashes or memorial.
Flags are placed on graves during Memorial and Veterans Day, Christmas wreaths are placed in December and there is an avenue of flags displayed on special holidays.