November 20, 2025 — Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced that the VLB has submitted a grant application to the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) of the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) to build the East Texas State Veterans Cemetery (SVC). This project is now #16 on the National Priority list.
"As Chairwoman of the Texas Veterans Land Board, one of my greatest responsibilities is ensuring every Texas Veteran has a dignified final resting place, and their families have a beautiful space to honor the memories of their loved ones," said Commissioner Buckingham. "The East Texas State Veterans Cemetery would serve the more than 32,000 Veterans in the East Texas Region in need of a Veterans cemetery closer to their homes and families. I look forward to continuing to work with the National Cemetery Administration and the Veterans Cemetery Coalition of East Texas to secure every Veterans' right to be buried with the honor befitting their selfless sacrifices."
Land that was offered as a donation to build the East Texas State Veterans Cemetery
The cemetery proposal includes several facilities and infrastructure items such as:
- 1,000 pre-positioned crypts
- 1,000 columbaria niches
- 1,000 in-ground plots
- Scattering Garden
- Flag Retirement Area
- Administration/Public Information Center Building
- Committal Service Shelter
- Memorial Garden and walkway
- Avenue of Flags
- Irrigation System and landscaping
Currently, the State of Texas does not own the land that was offered as a donation to build the East Texas State Veterans Cemetery. The landowner, Ms. Debra Christian of Tyler, is moving through a legal process, which must be completed before the land can be donated.
Once the State of Texas owns the donated land, a bidder will be selected and the project's bid package will be sent to NCA for final approval. This process is estimated to take close to a year to complete.
After the NCA reviews and approves the bid package, the grant is officially awarded and construction can begin. Although it is not known what the winning bidder will use for a construction timeline, a reasonable estimate can be inferred from the State’s newest cemetery, the West Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Lubbock, which had a two-year construction timeline.
