Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Dodge, January 2008
The Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Dodge continues to grow with 121 interments, both veterans and eligible dependents. Currently there are a total of 369 pre-certifications. Cemetery pre-certification applications can be found on our website at www.kcva.org, Cemetery Program, Pre-Registration, and Pre-Registration Form. You may also contact our office at (620)338-8772 for immediate assistance.
Former part-time temporary employee, James Schmidt, returned to work at the cemetery to assist the grounds crew through the months of August, September, and early October. James recently returned from Iraq where he served as an active duty Marine with 3/7L Co, an infantry unit out of Twenty Nine Palms, California. James did an excellent job working with the grounds crew and the overall beautification of the cemetery.
In August, Cemetery Manager, Gwen Seymour had the opportunity to visit Funeral Homes about the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery Program. She looks forward to future visits within the surrounding community in upcoming months. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, visit, or tour, please contact our office.
District Community Forester, Tim McDonnell, provided an on-site consultation to the cemetery in September. Mr. McDonnell’s recommendations were appreciated and will benefit both the cemetery and staff immensely during future operations.
Cemetery Managers Gwen Seymour (Fort Dodge) and Heidi Goff (WaKeeney), along with Equipment Operator Dennis Willis (Fort Dodge) and General Maintenance Repair Technician Perry Voss (Winfield) attended Turf and Landscape Operations Training at the National Training Center in St. Louis, MO. The training was extremely beneficial to all staff members, to include a site visit to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. All cemetery personnel walked away with ideas to add to their cemetery grounds maintenance plan.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Riley groundbreaking ceremony would occur on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at 10:00 am. Cemetery staff members from Fort Dodge, WaKeeney, and Winfield were present to render assistance as needed. The cemetery program is currently accepting pre-certification applications for the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Riley.
The Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Dodge held its second annual “Wreaths Across America” ceremony on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 11:00 am. This ceremony is an expansion of the Arlington Wreath Project with the placing of memorial wreaths at over 230 state and national cemeteries and veteran monuments across the country. Our cemetery received 679 wreaths from the Worcester Wreath Company out of Harrington, Maine. Wreaths were placed in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Dodge, as well as in the adjoining Kansas Soldiers Home Cemetery.
Plans for the upcoming Echo Taps and annual Memorial Day services are currently underway. The Echo Taps ceremony will be held May 17, 2008 at 11:00 am. Our annual Memorial Day service is May 26, 2008 at 11:00 am. The public is invited to attend all services in honor and remembrance of our veterans.
