EXETER, R.I. (WPRI) — The state has secured more than $5 million to expand the capacity of the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery .

Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse said the state is receiving the money through a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Our veterans have served with honor and distinction,” Reed said. “We have a duty to honor them and ensure this cemetery remains a fitting, special place to reflect on their sacrifice.”

The state plans on developing roughly 2.11 acres of the cemetery’s 190 undeveloped acres with the grant money. The funding will cover the cost of landscaping, as well as improvements to the cemetery’s infrastructure and irrigation system.

“When a Rhode Island veteran passes away, they deserve a final resting place befitting their honorable and selfless service to the nation,” Whitehouse said. “The Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery is such a place, and this federal funding will help expand its capacity and improve the grounds for families who come to reflect.”

The state also plans to construct 2,000 new columbarium niches, which hold veterans’ urns, medals and personal mementos.

Reed said the new niches, which can accommodate two urns for spouses who wish to have their remains placed together, are necessary since cremation is becoming more popular.

More than 25,000 Rhode Island veterans, as well as their spouses and eligible dependents, are buried at the cemetery.

The cemetery first opened in 1976 and currently spans 280 acres, though much of it is undeveloped. The grounds includes several memorials and monuments dedicated to veterans who served in specific wars and conflicts.

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