The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration has dedicated the Southern Utah National Cemetery in Cedar City, Utah. The new cemetery will provide space for casketed and cremated remains, with an expected 215 interments annually and eventual capacity for 13,434 gravesites. Initial burials are scheduled to begin later this month.
With the addition of the Southern Utah National Cemetery (SUNC), nearly 94% of veterans nationwide now have access to a VA or VA grant-funded burial option within 75 miles of their homes. SUNC is one of 157 national cemeteries operated by the VA across the country.
“This dedication expands VA’s initiative to provide Veterans living in rural locations with final resting places closer to their homes,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Generations of families will come to visit and remember their loved ones here — a place of spiritual comfort and healing. We will not forget the sacrifices and commitment of those interred in this sacred ground.”
The VA acquired the 8.14-acre property for SUNC in September 2018. Construction began in September 2023, taking 19 months to complete at a total cost of $11.8 million. The project contributed an estimated $7 million to the local economy.
Phase one includes features such as traditional gravesites, in-ground crypts, columbarium niches, a memorial wall, pre-placed crypts, a committal shelter for services, an assembly plaza, restrooms, and supporting infrastructure.
Located at 2181 West 1600 South in Cedar City, the cemetery will serve veterans and their families from the Southern Utah region. Burial services can be arranged through the NCA National Scheduling Office in St. Louis. Veterans and eligible family members interested in receiving burial benefits or learning how to apply can contact the National Cemetery Administration at 800-535-1117.
