We wanted to explain the veterans cemetery setup in Carlsbad a little more. There are actually two different processes going on right now.
First, the City has completed building a section of the cemetery off of Boyd Drive that has been dedicated to the burial of veterans, including reserves. This Carlsbad Memorial Veterans Cemetery is located in the northwest corner of the Carlsbad Cemetery, next to the Adon Rodriguez Honor Guard building. We will be following national guidelines for this cemetery. It’s a beautiful facility and we hope you’ll check it out. This service is now available for use.
Additionally, plans for a State Veterans Cemetery, which will be located at Sunset Gardens (off of Wood Avenue), are still underway. Recently, a land transfer at Sunset Gardens was approved, in which ten acres were transferred to the State for construction of this cemetery.
Why are we working on two different Veterans Cemeteries? First of all, the state-run cemetery at Sunset Gardens is still likely several years from completion. There are a number of major steps remaining before construction even begins, and a final decision on when construction will begin has not been made by the state. The announcement that Carlsbad was one of four sites selected for a state veterans’ cemetery was first made eight years ago. We’re certainly very excited about this development, but we have families who have been contacting now who are look for options for their veterans on a shorter timeline.
Additionally, reserves are eligible for burial at the Veterans Cemetery off of Boyd Drive. We have tremendous respect for our veterans and are comfortable with the fact that one service is being offered now to honor them while another is in development.
Families interested in obtaining more information about the Carlsbad Memorial Veterans Cemetery should contact our cemetery office at (575) 236-1074.
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Please mark your calendars. The City of Carlsbad is planning on holding a Hall of Fame induction for artist Gary Niblett and author/professor Dwight Pitcaithley on Jan. 28 in the Hall of Fame Room. Niblett’s work is currently on display at the Carlsbad Museum and has received rave reviews. Professor Pitcaithely is formerly the chief historian for the entire National Park System and his mother, Lynne, is also a member of Carlsbad’s Hall of Fame. He has written numerous books about the Civil War and is a leading expert in that subject. We are in the process of setting up details for this event, but hope you’ll join us.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway