(Aerial Photo by Dean Wilson of Yesterday in Dayton)
For the past several years, there have been discussions about what to do when the Chattanooga National Cemetery fills up.
The National Cemetery located on Holtzclaw Ave in downtown Chattanooga was established in 1867 and has served for approx. 157 years. It was originally created for soldiers killed in the Civil War battles on Lookout Mountain. Missionary Ridge, and Chickamauga.
Today, the cemetery is the final resting place of more than 64,500 veterans and their eligible families. This is the final resting place for Medal of Honor recipients and veterans who fought before and after the cemetery was created.
Chattanooga National Cemetery is projected to run out of land for new burials in the next 15 years. There are roughly 167,742 veterans living within the 75-mile radius of the new site in Birchwood, TN, who are entitled to be buried there.
After much research and discussion, the Department of Veterans Affairs office released this statement on land purchase for a new cemetery.
“VA acquired 266 acres of land in Birchwood, Tennessee, in Meigs County, for the future replacement of the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Those currently buried at this national cemetery will remain in their final resting place. This land was acquired from Vital-Blythe Ferry Holdings, a Tennessee limited liability company, for just over $11.5 million and is located along the east side of the Chickamauga Lake on Highway 60, 35 miles northeast of Chattanooga.
Phase 1 of this will develop roughly 55 of the 266-acre land acquisition site and will provide gravesites along with initial facilities and associated infrastructure. Construction is anticipated to start in late 2026, subject to the availability of funds. The future national cemetery in Birchwood will receive a new name. VA will provide additional information.
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