Expand The Chattanooga National Cemetery Where It Is - And Response

  • Friday, December 22, 2023

The Chattanooga National Cemetery is a jewel in the interior of the city. It’s one of the most beautiful and well maintained eternal resting places for our veterans. As we have heard, the government purchased property in Meigs County to be used as an extension when the current cemetery runs out of burial space.

I just can’t see an extension being so far away from the current location. Paying respect and homage to our vets has more meaning at the current location, where a populous amount of traffic passes by and visit daily. Whether you are traveling on Central, Bailey or Holtzclaw Avenues, the cemetery is a visible and pleasant sight to behold.

Imagine if they purchased the property starting at Main Street or Bailey Avenue traveling north to 3rd Street, all of which are bound by Holtzclaw Avenue. This would create a grand property area, much like Arlington Cemetery, yet, all a part of the current location.

Yes, it means acquiring the entire Warner Park location also. Warner Park can be relocated at another site in Chattanooga, perhaps a larger property site on Amnicola Highway or the South Enterprise area off Bonny Oaks, which would also give Chattanooga a much needed and larger zoo.

As for the Meigs location, it would be like anything else, out of sight and out of mind. That doesn’t seem like honoring our vets. Just a thought.

Timothy Sanford

* * * 

Mr. Sanford, respectfully your description of out of sight, out of mind is not an accurate description of the new Meigs County location of the National Cemetery. This location is stunningly beautiful, pristine riverfront property with Highway 60 access.

The location has off the charts serenity and beauty. We are in that area often for a decade of farm business, and pleased military service members will have hundreds of acres of property available to them. I read it was a large amount of land, that would be unattainable or cost prohibitive in the city of Chattanooga.

You should take Highway 60 to the river and experience what honoring military service will be like at this location.

Thank you, military veterans, for your service to us all. My gratitude abounds.

Merry Christmas y’all,

April Eidson


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