New veterans cemetery proposed

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - Thanks to a dream and a very generous donation, veterans in southeastern New Mexico could be buried closer to home.

The dream is that of Vietnam Army veteran Bert Eldrige. This is his final wish.

"To have a place at home," he said.  "I want to be buried at home. I don't want to be buried in Santa Fe."

His dream is about to come true. A 22-acre vacant lot next to Roswell's main cemetery has been donated to the city. It is to be used solely for veteran burials.

Ray Willis, president of Hanson Operating Oil Company, donated the land. He says it's what the company's founder and original owner, Gen. Douglas McBride would have wanted.

McBride was a World War II Veteran who Willis said would have wanted it to be used for this exact purpose.

"It's all for the veterans," Willis said. "When a young man is off at war and loses his life, I think it's bad that his family has to raise money to bury him."

The goal is to allow vets from all over the region to be buried at the new cemetery for free. Eldrige said the city will pick up the tab for maintenance.  The plots won't cost a dime because the land is donated. 

Eldrige is working with business to pay the remainder of the costs including headstones.  He believes the best part is it will be more convenient for families.

"People can't afford to drive all the way to Santa Fe any more," he continued.  "It's so far to go, and for elderly people, it's just too hard on them to travel 300 miles to go visit graves on birthdays and Memorial Day."

The final plans are expected to be approved by the Roswell City Council in July, and Eldrige hopes to seek national recognition after that.

Congress must approve any new national cemeteries. The proposed cemetery in Roswell could help ease the problem of limited space at the national cemetery in Santa Fe. Its expected to run out of burial space in the next decade.

Fort Bayard in Grant County is the only other national cemetery in the state.