[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1111-E1112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              H.R.--THE VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL CEMETERY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I introduced the Valley Forge 
National Cemetery Act. This bill would establish a new national 
cemetery for our nation's veterans on land within the boundaries of 
Valley Forge National Historical Park. I am pleased to be joined in 
this effort by the entire Pennsylvania delegation.
  The National Cemetery Administration is running out of space for the 
burial of deceased veterans of military service to the United States. 
New cemeteries must be established for our veterans. The Philadelphia 
National Cemetery in Pennsylvania and the Beverly National Cemetery and 
Finn's Point National Cemetery, both in New Jersey, are no longer open 
for in-ground, full casket burials, other than those who already have 
existing plots. There is also no national cemetery in the State of 
Delaware. Thus, the need for an additional national cemetery in our 
area is immediate.
  Current population figures from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
show a population of

[[Page E1112]]

574,584 veterans in the 11-county Philadelphia region. The next decade 
will challenge the National Cemetery Administration to accommodate 
World War II and Korean War veterans, as well as veterans from the 
Vietnam era. Each of our veterans deserves the honor of burial in a 
national cemetery. In order to best be able to honor and remember their 
loved ones, families need to have access to those gravesites within a 
reasonable distance from their homes. The best opportunity to meet this 
need in the Philadelphia area is to dedicate existing federally owned 
property in the Valley Forge National Historical Park.
  The Valley Forge National Historical Park is dedicated to the 
earliest American military veterans and the long winter of their 
suffering during the War of the American Revolution. Although no battle 
was fought on this land, it is nevertheless symbolic of our Nation's 
military valor and triumph over adversity. The bill will designate 100 
acres of the 3,600 acre National Park for use as a national cemetery. 
The section of land north of the Schuylkill River would be the ideal 
location for the national cemetery. This area contains no historical 
markers and is separated from the rest of the park by the river. 
Dedication of this portion of the Historical Park as a national 
cemetery would thus add a solemn and appropriate place to honor and 
remember those who have served this country in the military.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge swift consideration of this bill as an important 
and timely opportunity to honor our nations' military veterans.

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