VA's plan for 9,100 new burial sites provokes community outrage

In Denver, Colorado, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs initiated plans to expand Fort Logan National Cemetery, impacting approximately 20 acres of land. The proposed project includes the construction of 9,100 burial sites for casketed remains, over 19,000 markers for cremated remains, and 7,500 niches for burial urns. The new columbarium wall, measuring roughly 9 feet in height and half a mile in length, will be situated on the cemetery's southern border, adjacent to 20 homes in the Pinehurst Estates neighborhood. Residents, particularly those with close family ties to the cemetery, express concerns about the aesthetic and emotional impact this expansion will have on their homes and community. They claim they were left out of the planning process, only learning about the official project details shortly before a town hall meeting held in early December. Though the VA asserts they followed required notification standards, many community members feel disregarded and have voiced a desire for more engagement in the decision-making process. With the cemetery now covering over 260 acres, the expansion has sparked fears regarding the potential loss of property value and the impact on the neighborhood's quality of life. Neighbors advocate for a re-evaluation of the construction's location, suggesting alternatives that would prevent disruption to their homes and preserve the backdrop of the cemetery as a national monument.