By Mary Alice Murphy

Two representatives of the National Cemetery Association met in Silver City at the American Legion Post 18 Hall to answer questions and give an update on construction at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery, as well as announce new initiatives of the NCA.

Jared Howard serves as the assistant director of the Santa Fe and Fort Bayard National Cemeteries. He said he would be coming to the area at least once a month.

"A new non-profit support foundation, a 501c3, the Fort Bayard Support Foundation, has been created to promote the Santa Fe and Fort Bayard cemeteries," Howard said. "The website is SantaFeNCSF.org. Ray and Bonnie Davis of Silver City, active in the Legion, are board members. We're excited about it. It will promote volunteers helping out at the cemeteries."

He said Memorial Day was great in Santa Fe and he had seen photos that looked like it was great at Fort Bayard also.

Howard handed out two flyers, one of which was the Pacific District at a glance. In 2014, Fort Bayard National Cemetery was moved to the Pacific District, which oversees the two national cemeteries in New Mexico. The Pacific District oversees 20 national cemeteries with two more planned in nine states and two territories.

"We want Fort Bayard National Cemetery to be what you want it to be," Howard continued. "We have plans for more construction even after this contract. We have added 705 in-ground sites and will have 250 cremation places in the columbarium. We are also working on the public building, which will house your coordinator here, Joseph Trujillo, as well as public restrooms and a kiosk to help visitors find a grave. We will replace the old maintenance building and will grade out a new area. With more irrigation projects, we will ultimately have turf, which will keep the gravestones cleaner."

He said plans are to regrade the roads, modify the old drainage and work on the drainage in front to improve storm drainage. "Joseph will have a phone and computer. We are spending $2.7 million on this contract."

Navy Capt. Diane LeBlanc pointed out the gravel was quite difficult to move veterans in wheelchairs.

Howard said $38,000 is slated to put in new concrete, with a bid going out soon.

American Legion member Chuck Wenzel asked if the flag stands were going in again. Howard confirmed that a new avenue of flags would be put in.

WWII veteran Bill Harrison asked if the projects would be accepted in segments or not until all the construction was complete.

Howard said the columbarium wall would be completed as soon as possible to give burial options to veterans. "We are 55 percent into it."

He said Phase I was 100 percent complete, with the hope of wrapping up Phase II in July, and then planning more changes in Phase III.

"Some times, we accept parts of construction projects as they are finished," Howard said.

Don Luhrsen, American Legion member, noted that more seats are needed "at our standing-room only events."

Howard said, after the concrete is replaced, the existing benches are slated to go back in. "I will go look tomorrow."

Marine Corps Detachment 1328 member Frank Donohue asked if both shelters would remain as is.

"Yes, you will use the rostrum for events," Howard said, "and the committal shelter for burial ceremonies."

A veteran, who said he was part of the American Legion Honor Guard, said the small committal shelter would not accommodate the sometimes 50-75 people who attend burials.

Later in the discussion, it was noted that the size of the shelters is standard depending on the size of the cemetery.

Howard noted that the NCA is still working with the state of New Mexico to get more land and water rights.

Ray Davis asked if organizations could donate benches to provide for more seating. "Is there a plaque that can designate who provided the bench?"

Bradley Phillips, National Cemetery Administration Pacific District Director, whose office is in California, said a plaque could generally be done, especially for veterans' service organizations. "I'm the approving authority. We have a packet to fill out."

To a question about the availability of water, Phillips said the "irrigation system is kaput. We are going to put laterals to the new sections. In about October of this year, we will start to put laterals to the F and G sections and to the A and B sections. It's pointless to put in turf without irrigation.

Howard noted the cemetery has a new mailing address, which is Fort Bayard National Cemetery, P.O. Box 1111, Santa Clara, NM 88026.

He noted the NCA has begun a new program for pre-planning. "Historically, we're made services available at the time of need. Now we have a pre-need eligibility determination. I want to emphasize that this is not a reservation. We are able to review your documents and determine whether you and your spouse are or are not eligible to be buried at a national cemetery.

"I have sad news for you," Howard said. "Ms. Susan Parks, for health reasons, will have to retire. She will go back to Texas to be with her family and grandkids. She is sorry to leave, but you will continue working with Joseph and with me. I'll be coming down once a month."

Phillips said he, too, is sad to see Parks go. "I think the world of her. Jared and I have worked together for five years. The way I'm going to move forward is the day Susan retires I will name Jared as the acting director. Then I will go through the several month process to name her successor."

Another new program of the NCA is the Legacy program. "We are looking to capture the stories of our veterans interred in our national cemeteries. We will create lesson plans using those stories to educate students. It's a great chance to pass along history." Phillips gave an example of how he had learned about the Spruce Battalion by seeing it mentioned on a grave in a national cemetery. "There are many little history nuggets in our national cemeteries. The Legacy Program will be coming here."

He said the Pacific region is the busiest of the four national regions. "We have 26 percent of the interments. We have six of the 10 busiest cemeteries in the nation. We are also geographically the largest district."

"I'm really excited to come back next year and see the progress at your cemetery," Phillips said.

Melanie Goodman of Sen. Tom Udall's office asked if the $2.7 million was part of the original allocation or in addition to the original $7 million.

Howard said it was new money and projects would be ongoing at Fort Bayard National Cemetery.

Phillips noted that each cemetery takes as much of its land for burials as it can.

To a question about ongoing work contracts, Phillips said the funding depends on how much was in the original contract and how much remains.

Howard and Phillips then visited with those attending the session.