By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – The opening for the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery, being constructed on Camp Villere land in Slidell, will not occur until June, due to construction delays.
The cemetery was originally expected to open in April, but several weather-related issues with the construction on the 75-acre piece of land have pushed the official opening off two more months, Department of Veterans Affairs Communications Director Robin Keller said.
Slidell was selected as the location for the third Veteran’s Cemetery in Louisiana, seen as a coup for St. Tammany Parish after the effort to bring the cemetery here was directed by former Louisiana Veteran’s Affairs Director Lane Carson—a Covington attorney.
The 75-acres of property were donated from Camp Villere, and are clearly visible driving on Interstate 12 between Slidell and Lacombe. A long road from Camp Villere to the gate heading into the 75-acre cemetery is already finished, with a black, wrought-iron fence being built along the road.
A welcome center to the cemetery will provide computers that will help individuals locate anyone who is buried in the cemetery.
Keller said the interest in the cemetery has been extremely high since the original announcement it would be built here.
“The location is so prominent right along the interstate and that has added to the interest,” she said. “Ever since the first announcement, we’ve had a lot of calls of interest.”
Riding along Interstate 12, the cemetery entrance roadway is visible, along with the welcome building, but Keller said they have finished the land clearing and do not plan to take down more trees to make it more visible.
“We will probably have some traditional signage that will make it clear what is there, but if you go back into the property, where there are so many trees, it is very peaceful and beautiful,” she said. “The trees keep the noise from the interstate down. It’s actually very quiet back there and we believe many people will appreciate that.”
She said there will not only be crypts, cremated burial sites and locations for burial urns, but there will also be a “Scatter Garden” where cremated remains can be distributed.
“We have found these sites to be very popular among the family members,” she said.
Construction of the facility is costing $8.4 million that was provided from the federal government. The initial phase will have room for 2,579 preplaced crypts, 273 cremain gravesites and 480 funeral urns’ niches.