Augusta – Senator Jon Courtney testified before the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs today in an effort to secure funding for positions at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale.If approved by the committee and passed by the legislature, LD 299, “An Act Regarding the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery” will authorize $104,026 in the fiscal year 2011-2012 and $198,971 in fiscal year 2012-2013 from the General Fund to fund three new positions and to convert one seasonal position to fulltime.

Sen. Courtney said in his testimony, “this bill is a logical continuation of a ten year old dream to secure a final resting place for those who served and sacrificed to protect our freedom here at home and abroad.  Through the efforts of the Southern Maine Veterans’ Memorial Committee, the Town of Sanford, and countless others, the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery was dedicated last August, and opened last fall.

“The Springvale location is important. One-third of Maine’s veterans reside in York and Cumberland Counties.  That translates into approximately 53,000 of our roughly 150,000 veterans.  The Bureau of Veterans’ Services tells me that each year, an average of 3,900 of our veterans pass away.  When fully completed, the cemetery will hold the final remains of 20,000 veterans and family members.

“This bill furthers the efforts of so many on behalf of our veterans and their families because it will remove one of the last barriers to interment of those who offered themselves in service to us and our great nation.  The issue now facing the Southern Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery is not one of commitment, location, or space.  It is whether or not there is enough staff support to perform burials.”