Published: May 29, 2009 12:23 am      

Veterans cemetery reaches milestone

In any major undertaking such as the one the size of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery (MVMC), baby steps must be taken during the course of the project.

Thursday, MVMC Director Randy Reeves announced a major step as officials with the MVMC received permission from the state Veterans Administration to advertise for bids from contractors who wish to compete for the construction rights of the multi-million dollar project. It was an announcement Reeves was most excited to talk about.

"All of us associated with this project are ecstatic over this new development," said Reeves. "The fact we are soliciting for bids means this project is going from being just a dream on paper to a reality. Very soon people in Newton County and those driving along I-20 between Meridian and Newton will be able to see machinery on the property."

The bidding process, as with all State of Mississippi projects, will be conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management. The winning contractor will prepare the land, construct the administrative, ceremonial structures and maintenance buildings for Phase I

estimated to cost around $7 million dollars. There also will be approximately 5,000 internment sites in this first installment.

"In today's dollars, the first phase will probably be the most expensive and comprehensive construction project for the entire cemetery," Reeves said. "This will go a long way in setting the tone for what this cemetery will be in the future."

Reeves, who along with many associated with the project have nicknamed the site as the "Arlington of the South," in reference to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., said MVMC will be located on 75 acres between Newton and Hickory. The site is just off I-20 and will be visible from the Interstate. The cemetery will serve all eligible U.S. veterans and is currently projected to begin construction in the fall of 2009 and open for interments in the spring of 2011.

"We are hoping for the official ground breaking to take place in July," said Reeves. "That will be yet another step forward for us and I'm really looking forward to that."