Cape May County Veterans’ Cemetery Celebrates 35 Years

The Cape May County Veterans’ Cemetery was first dedicated in 1980 and has been serving as the final resting place for County Veterans’ for nearly 35 years. When the 17.6 acre cemetery was officially opened, it was the second burial site for veterans in the State and one of two counties in the nation with a local cemetery for its veterans. The location for the Veterans’ Cemetery, in the Crest Haven Complex, was selected since it was a large enough parcel of county owned land and fit within the land use parameters regulated by its proximity to a navigational facility.
Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton, a U.S. Air Force Veteran himself, met with local veterans who requested a Veterans’ Cemetery in the County because the nearest federal veterans burial sites were located in Long Island and western Pennsylvania. “It was back in 1978 when I first initiated the effort. I had been in office for two years and recognized the fact that our county was home to a lot of veterans’ families and wives,” explains Thornton. “So I went to the lady in charge,” laughs Freeholder Director Thornton. He consulted Myrtle “Sug” Hevener, Veterans’ Service Officer and Supervisor of Veterans’ Interment, who quickly confirmed that there were 8,500 county veterans who would benefit from these free burial plots.
“From there, we created a Veterans’ Advisory Group including eight local representatives from the area American Legion, VFW, and other veteran’s organizations,” continues Freeholder Thornton. The Group worked closely to conceive the cemetery plan and then proposed the use of the county-owned land to the Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Board promptly voted unanimously to move forward on the project. “The Board of Freeholders was so very, very supportive,” recounts Thornton. “Every aspect of the project I presented to them, they said ‘No problem,’ and the money was appropriated.”
Next, Thornton worked to secure waivers and permits from the state to begin development of the Veterans Cemetery. “This was one of our biggest hurdles,” states Freeholder Thornton. “The State Department of Banking had to approve new cemeteries, and we weren’t getting much of a response. The state required that the County place $100,000 in escrow before proceeding. As a County agency, it just wasn’t possible for us,” he explains. After detailing this struggle to state senator Jim Hurley, Thornton was pleasantly surprised to learn that Hurley was more than willing to consult the director of the state banking commission. The director met with Thornton personally, learned of the promising cemetery plans, and granted the required waiver.
In May 1980, history was made and the Cape May County Veterans’ Cemetery was opened with room for 6,300 gravesites. Since then a section for the burial of cremains has been opened to allow for 6,700 veterans to be interred with honor among fellow veterans.
On May 17, 1981, almost a year from the day of the opening of the Veterans’ Cemetery, Freeholder Thornton proudly led the ceremony for the dedication of the Veterans’ Monument, erected at the front of the cemetery. The ten foot granite monument, inscribed with the insignias of all branches of the armed forces and carved with the words, “For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today,” was unveiled before a crowd of proud veterans wearing campaign hats from every branch of the military, including 81 year-old Ernest Smith, who was dressed in his original ‘dough boy’ uniform from World War I. The Veterans’ Monument stands as a tribute to honor and welcome, to their final resting place, all Cape May County Veterans who honorably served their country. “I have and always will be extremely proud of our accomplishment,” states Freeholder Thornton. “The impact it has had on our veterans and their families is extremely important to me.”
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Jeffrey Pierson currently serves as the CMC Veterans Cemetery Interment Officer and reports several updates to the grounds currently in progress or initial planning stages. Creating a defined barrier between the grounds and the adjacent correctional facility is a central current concern. Facilities and services has also recently begun renovating all headstones, surrounding each row with a designated barrier and rocks to surround the headstones. Pierson commends the work of Eagle Scout candidate Zac Lambert of Troop 73 on the now beautiful prayer garden he and his fellow scouts installed and designed on the cemetery grounds. The serene reflection garden features pavers, armed forces statues, benches, and even a reflecting wall. “He really nailed it,” states Pierson. “It represents our military really well. It was a beautiful job.”
Today, Freeholder Thornton visits the cemetery grounds at least once every two weeks to note the many ways in which this resting place has evolved since its beginnings as a mere dream. “We have an obligation as a county and a nation to protect this wonderful democracy we have here and our vets who have served, and I believe that this cemetery has allowed us to meet this obligation,” he finishes. For more information about the Veterans’ Cemetery call the Cape May County Veterans’ Bureau at 609 886-2762 or visit www.capemaycountygov.net.