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Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery
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609-758-7250
Although it is one of the smaller states
area-wise, New Jersey ranks ninth overall in number of veterans and second
in median age of those veterans; but by 1965, both federal cemeteries in
the state at Finn's Point and Beverly were closed to new interments. Officials
could see that New Jersey's large and older veterans population would not
be properly served in the future without a new veterans cemetery within
the state.
With space in national cemeteries limited, the federal government recognized
the need for additional land to accommodate deceased veterans who wished
to be interred in national cemeteries and the financial burden associated
with the program. As an alternative to constructing new national cemeteries,
in 1978, the federal government appropriated grant money for states to
construct their own.
In 1981, the Department of Human Services' Division of Veterans Programs
and Special Services was authorized to initiate a plan for the development
of a state veterans cemetery. Acting on this authority, Brigadier General
William C. Doyle, director of the division, contacted the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs' Division of State Cemetery Grants with a proposal.
Following that, William F. Fauver, commissioner of the Department of Corrections,
authorized the transfer of 184 acres of land in Arneytown, Burlington
County, to the Department of Human Services to be used as a cemetery site.
In 1982, Senator Herman T. Costello's bill (originally introduced in
1979 at the request of Joseph Gerety, Riverside) was signed into law appropriating
$100,000 for planning the cemetery. In 1983, a contractor was selected,
and the North Hanover Township Committee passed a resolution in favor
of the construction of a veterans cemetery within the municipality. In
September of that year, Colonel Warren L. Davis, director of the Division
of Veterans Programs, formally applied for a grant from VA. VA committed
$600,000 in support of the initial development of the facility. In February
1984, after reviewing the application, VA committed $1,307,000 to the
project. New Jersey provided an equal share with a $857,000 cash appropriation
and $450,000 in land value.
In May a master plan was completed; ground was broken by Governor Thomas
H. Kean and George J. Albanese, commissioner of the Department of Human
Services, on a frigid November 13; and construction began January 1985.
On Memorial Day, May 30, 1986 - a sunny, sweltering hot afternoon - Governor
Kean dedicated New Jersey's first state-operated veterans cemetery "as
a lasting memorial to those men and women who put their lives on the line
to defend our country's honor and freedom."
The cemetery was named for Brigadier General Doyle on January 3, 1989.
FACILITIES
The BG Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery provides eligible veteran residents
of New Jersey the opportunity to be interred in a state-operated cemetery
dedicated to them. Located on 225 acres in a picturesque setting of partially-wooded
land in Arneytown, North Hanover Township, Burlington County, the cemetery
features a modern, non-denominational chapel/administration building.
Areas are provided for the interment of those cremated and for those veterans
whose remains have never been recovered.
The cemetery will accommodate 154,000 veterans and eligible family members.
ELIGIBILITY
Burials are free and are available to service members who died while
on active duty or to veterans whose last active service ended under other
than dishonorable or undesirable conditions. Also eligible are members
of any reserve component of the Armed Forces (Army National Guard, Air
National Guard or the Reserve Officers Training Corps of the Army, Navy
and Air Force) who dies under honorable conditions while on active duty
for training or performing full-time service; any member of a reserve
component who has attained 20 years of service creditable for retired
pay; certain World War II Merchant Marines and those who have attained
veteran status.
The veteran or service member must have established legal residence in
New Jersey prior to death or have been a legal resident of the state for
at least 50 percent of his or her lifetime.
Eligible dependents include the veteran's spouse, unmarried children
under the age of 21 and unmarried adult children who became incapable
of self support before reaching the age of 21 because of mental or physical
impairment. The spouse and/or dependents of a veteran may be interred
should they predecease the veteran, with the stipulation and understanding
that, upon the veteran's death, the veteran will be interred with the
spouse or dependent.
BURIAL ENTITLEMENTS
Veterans' burial entitlements include a plot for the veteran, spouse
and eligible dependents; a grave liner; interment service; use of the
chapel; a U.S. bronze grave marker and granite base; and maintenance in
perpetuity, at no charge to the veteran or veteran's family.
REQUESTS FOR BURIAL
Requests for burial may be made at the time of death through any funeral
director. The request should be accompanied by proof of the veteran's
honorable military service and legal residence in New Jersey. The funeral
director will then contact the cemetery. Requests for interment of cremated
remains may be made by the family directly to the cemetery office. Although
the cemetery will assist in every way possible, establishing eligibility
is the responsibility of those requesting the burial and must be established
before the burial is permitted.
PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY
Proof of eligible service would be the original or certified copy of
the veteran's separation or discharge papers (DD214 or WD Form 53 for
World War II veterans). Proof for a reservist would be a valid letter
of "Notification of Eligibility for retired pay at age sixty"
provided by the Reserve Component Command.
Evidence of legal residence may include: drivers license or phone bills;
a continuous voting record; records of personal and/or property tax payments.
After eligibility is confirmed by the cemetery, the funeral director
must bring to the cemetery, on the day of interment, the documentary evidence
used to prove the veteran's eligibility.
PREREGISTRATION
Veterans may pre-register their intent to be interred at the cemetery
at any state
veterans service office. or at the cemetery office.
CEMETERY OFFICE HOURS
The cemetery office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.; burials are scheduled on regular state working days, Monday through
Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Memorial Day service held yearly; call
for date and time. 609-758-7250.