Congressman Zach Wamp said Monday the National Cemetery has enough property to provide burial spaces through 2046, but he wants to see it expanded further.
"As long as we are putting our service members in harm's way, we owe it to them to have space available at our National Cemetery," Rep. Wamp said during a tour of the historic cemetery on Monday.
He also went with Mayor Ron Littlefield and with William F. Tuerk, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs undersecretary for memorial affairs, to look at some of the land to the south that may eventually become part of the cemetery.
Rep. Wamp said he would like to see the city of Chattanooga involved in assembling the tracts from willing sellers.
He noted there are a couple of manufacturing facilities at that location, and he said that land might eventually come open if the firms decide to close or move.
Rep. Wamp said if the 30 acres can be secured, that would mean a new section that is 25 percent the size of the current burial grounds.