JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Funds provided by the General Assembly and Gov. Jay Nixon during session will help go towards a new veterans’ home in Missouri.
Nixon announced $500,000 for the new home Friday in advance of Memorial Day weekend.
“The men and women who have bravely served in our nation’s defense merit both our thanks and our continued commitment honoring their service,” Nixon said in a statement. “No Missouri veteran should have to languish on a waiting list for high-quality care. As the unsung members of the Vietnam generation are now becoming senior citizens, we are facing a critical need for the care and support they have earned. I appreciate the General Assembly’s bipartisan support for my budget recommendation that will get this vital project in gear and moving ahead, ensuring all our veterans receive the best care we can provide.”
According to the governor’s office, more than 1,900 Missouri veterans are currently on a waiting list for state facilities, a number that’s growing due to aging Vietnam and Korean War veterans.
Nixon and the General Assembly will also provide $6.3 million for the construction of Columbarium walls, designed to hold individuals’ cremated remains, at the state veterans’ cemeteries at Higginsville and Springfield.
“We also must honor and preserve the memory of our veterans who have passed on, with final resting places that reflect dignity and respect,” Nixon said. “We owe them no less.”
This year’s announcement by Nixon continues a Memorial Day tradition. Last year he signed three bills providing $33 million for improvement projects at the state’s seven existing veterans’ homes in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis and Warrensburg. Also, $700,000 was made available for improvements to state cemeteries for veterans in Jacksonville, St. James and Springfield.
