Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney Update January, 2008
Heidi Goff attended the Master Gardener Training at the National Cemetery Training Center in St. Louis, Missouri in September, 2007. The training and information that she received was extremely beneficial in helping to achieve the National Shrine Standard in the landscaping and general appearance of the Cemetery.
Heidi represented the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery Program at the Fort Riley Army Retirement Fair in October, 2007.
The Annual Veterans’ Day Service was held at the Cemetery on Friday, November 9th. We would like to thank the speaker, Jerry Steinman, who served in the US Navy in Cambodia, the chaplain Fr. Donald Pfannenstiel, the Stockton VFW who provided honors and the Patriot Guard for participating in the Service. We would also like to thank Rev. Randy Gibbs, Jay Connelly and Olivia Fabrizius for their musical contributions to the service. Following the Veterans’ Day Program, a National Flag Retirement/Disposal Ceremony was conducted.
Heidi, Steve and Myron assisted in the Groundbreaking Ceremony at the site of the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Riley on November 11, 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin soon on the fourth and final Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery.
The Annual Wreaths Across America Service was held at the Cemetery on December 15th. A wreath was placed at each grave in the Cemetery following the ceremony. The wreaths were purchased with donations that were received from families and the local community. We would like to thank Lt. Col Errol Wuertz and the Hays Civil Air Patrol for coordinating the wreaths and the ceremony. We would also like to thank the Hays VFW, Fr. Donald Pfannenstiel and Jay and Krista Connelly for also participating in the service.
Please mark on your calendars our Annual Echo Taps Worldwide Service on Armed Forces Day, May 17, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. and our Annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
KCVA veteran service representative, Phillip Woodford is available to offer assistance to local Veterans in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney Conference Room the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Veterans have the opportunity to meet with their VA Representative to discuss their Veterans’ benefits during at that time. Please call Mr. Woodford at (785) 625-8532 to schedule an appointment or stop by the Cemetery office.
The Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney presently has interred 91 veterans and dependents and has 542 pre-certifications.
Our Cemetery staff is dedicated to assisting our Veterans’ and their families and to continue providing a beautiful Cemetery that honors each of them. If you would like to schedule a tour or to pre-certify for burial at our Cemetery, please call Heidi at (785) 743-5685.