May 26, 2009 9:50 pm US/Eastern
N.J. Veterans' Cemetery Set To Close
PENNSVILLE (CBS 3) ―
-
-
Finns Point National Cemetery in Pennsville, Salem County is set to close after 150 years.
CBS
Part of what makes Finn's Point National Cemetery so peaceful is the water. The small plot of land in Pennsville, Salem County is nearly surrounded by the Delaware River.
But the water is also what is forcing the cemetery to close.
Veterans Affairs officials say Finn's Point will accept burials of cremated remains through the end of 2009, but after that, the 150 year old cemetery will effectively be closed.
Officials say the water level beneath the ground is now too high for VA crews to dig additional burial sites.
"It's devastating to think about losing this place," said veteran and Pennsville resident Larry Stewart.
Finn's Point is home to about 5,000 veterans' graves, including those of 2,500 Confederate prisoners of war held on nearby Pea Patch Island during the Civil War.
It is also the only national cemetery in Salem County. Veterans will now have to drive roughly 90 minutes to Washington Crossing, Pa. to be buried in a national cemetery.
"It's just so convenient for the local people to be buried in a local graveyard," said Frank Hofacker, commander of Pennsville's VFW post. "We want to be buried where our loved ones can come visit us without traveling a long distance."
VA officials say casket burials were stopped at the cemetery in 1963 because of the water problems. Since then, Finn's Point has accepted only cremated remains. Now, the water is high enough that those burials must stop as well.
But several veterans say they're also concerned about their colleagues already buried at Finn's Point. They say dredging of the Delaware River's shipping channel has raised the banks surrounding the cemetery, forcing water down beneath the cemetery's ground.
"The water has to run this way," said Curt Williams, commander of Pennsville's American Legion post.
He's concerned the water table could eventually flood the existing graves.
VA officials say they believe there's no danger to the cemetery's existing graves.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Openly Gay Celebrities
Click to enlarge
1 Dead, 1 Critical After Cumberland Co. Crash 6 mins ago
U.S.-Born Runner Wins Philadelphia Marathon 56 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments