Veterans’ Cemetery Interment Costs Reduced

CREST HAVEN – Families of veterans who will be interred at Cape May County Veterans’ Cemetery will pay less than previously to have graves opened. That’s because, for the first time, freeholders awarded a contract to a local firm. It places stringent price limits on burials at the cemetery on Crest Haven Road.
The contract for provision of interment services at the Veterans’ Cemetery deemed, “a long process,” was awarded to Douglass Monuments, Inc. of Court House. The firm was selected from among three which responded to the request for proposals.
Purchasing Agent Kim Allen explained to the board prior to the Jan. 22 award of the contract that what the county sought was a “solid process to present to funeral directors.”
There had been no prior contractor for the service, she said. Burials will be $395 for caskets and $150 for cremains with costs paid by the families. Previously, the costs were $750 and $300 respectively, she said.
On average there are 180 interments a year at the cemetery, of those, 130 are burials of caskets and 50 are cremains. Based upon those figures, Allen estimated that veterans’ families would save nearly $41,000 with the new prices.
“There is no cost to the county and a nice savings for them,” Allen told the board.
There will be no cost to the county as a result of the contract. No heavy equipment will be permitted over new sidewalks in the cemetery. The contract went into effect Jan. 23.
Annmarie McMahon, acting superintendent, Buildings and Grounds told the board some pathways will be replaced with concrete. In a meeting with Douglass Monument, McMahon was assured that the firm will not use heavy equipment or backhoe over those concrete walkways. Lighter equipment will be used, she said.
The following portions regarding the cemetery appeared in the Herald Aug. 1, 2012:
Since Andrew S. Demyan, an Army Air Corps veterans was interred in grave A0001 at Cape May County Veterans Cemetery, dedicated in 1980, there have been no regulations regarding grave digging. That is about to change since freeholders, on Tue., July 24, passed a resolution to allow competitive contracting for “provision of interment services.”
The county has printed “Conditions for Burial” in the Crest Haven Road final resting place of about 4,800 military veterans and their spouses, but nothing regulates digging of graves.
Edmund Grant, county director of operations, told freeholders … of the agenda item that would seek proposals from firms seeking to perform that service at the cemetery.
“We will meet with veterans’ groups to make sure they understand what we are proposing,” Grant told the board.
Grant termed as “horrible” the condition of some bronze grave markers that are settling, sunken or sideways. Part of the reason for that deplorable state, Grant said, was that asphalt pathways are located too close to the graves.
“When they dig a grave inches from the pathway, it settles, and now, by removing the path they can dig holes farther down and put the headstone on solid ground,” Grant added.
“Finally, we’ve got a plan that is going to work. It took a long time to get there,” he added.
Vice Director M. Susan Sheppard was unclear what the county would be seeking by passage of the resolution. “What are we going out for?” she asked.
“Grave digging,” Grant responded, “So we can regulate them.”
“This isn’t a new approach. Other cemeteries have taken this approach. We own the cemetery and there are no guidelines out there. It’s wide open,” said Grant.
When a veteran dies, the funeral director is contacted by the family and arrangements are made that include opening a grave, Grant noted.
“There are no specifications, no rules, no nothing,” he added.
“I have been fighting this battle for 10 to 12 years,” said Director Gerald Thornton. “It’s been a battle. Lenny (Freeholder Leonard Desiderio) has it (the cemetery) now; he has Facilities and Services (which is tasked with cemetery care and maintenance). He’s trying to get the job done, and it’s not getting done the way we want,” Thornton added.
“We want to take control and get this thing done the way it should be done,” he continued.
“They don’t contract with us, they contract with the family,” said Grant. “Other facilities have specifications. One major thing is compression.” When that occurs, markers shift.