Secretary Shinseki Announces $567,000 in Grants to Maine

State Veterans Cemeteries in Springvale and Caribou Receive Funds

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To make improvements in two
state Veterans cemeteries, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded
two grants to the state of Maine.

"VA and the Bureau of Maine Veterans Services are working together to ensure
Veterans in Maine continue to receive the benefits they have earned," said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

A $326,267 grant for a one-acre project at the Northern Maine Veterans
Cemetery in Caribou will allow that cemetery to continue to offer the option
of cremation burial in a columbarium. The project will provide construction
of an additional 216 columbarium niches.

At the Springvale State Veterans Cemetery, a $240,634 grant will fund
construction of a committal shelter at the new cemetery, which could be open
for first burials late this year, depending on weather conditions.

These cemeteries and two others in Augusta, were all established by VA grants
and will serve approximately 144,000 Maine Veterans and their families.

VA's State Cemetery Grants Program is designed to complement VA's 130 national
cemeteries across the country. Since 1980, the program has awarded grants
totaling more than $389 million to establish, expand or improve 74 Veterans
cemeteries in 38 states or territories including Guam and Saipan. VA-funded
state Veterans cemeteries provided nearly 25,000 burials in 2008.

Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable,
their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in Maine's state
Veterans cemeteries. Information about these cemeteries is available by
calling the Maine Department of Veterans Affairs at (207) 287-3481 or on the
Internet at www.maine.gov/dvem/bvs/cemeteries.htm.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery
offices, by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000 or from the
Internet at www.cem.va.gov.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Office of Public Affairs, +1-202-461-7600