SPANISH FORT, Alabama - It will be an estimated 15 months until the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort conducts its first interment, but at the groundbreaking ceremony Friday, it was already being treated as hallowed ground. More than 200 veterans were among the visitors at the 103-acre site in a ceremony steeped in tradition. When it’s completed, it will be the first state-administered veterans’ cemetery in Alabama and will join 82 others currently in service nationwide.

“I think it’s a very fitting honor that we have a resting place for the veterans in this area and this state who wish to be buried here,” Gov. Robert Bentley said. “If you take a look at the plans for the site, you will see that it is going to be meticulous and it will serve the state for generations.”

Gov. Bentley joined Congressman Jo Bonner, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Clyde Marsh, Veterans Cemetery Grants Service Director Frank Salvas, Memorial Affairs Under Secretary Steve Muro and others for the ceremony.

Muro was among many who claimed there was no better site for a veterans’ cemetery – across State Highway 225 from Blakeley State Park, where the last battle of the Civil War occurred on April 9, 1865.

“This year were celebrating 150 years since the end of the civil war, when Congress gave President Lincoln the authority to create the National Cemetery Administration, because before that, people were buried wherever they fell,” Muro said. “I love doing groundbreakings because I know what we do is right for those veterans that serve. We’re giving them a nice resting place that their loved ones can come to and be able to reflect on their service. “

Alabama Veterans Affairs General Counsel Sandra Speakman, who is overseeing the project, said that while the VA hasn’t established interment guidelines yet, cemetery regulations will be modeled after other states, and at the very least, will be available to any veteran and their spouse who was honorably discharged.

“This is new for us and right now we are focused on making sure it will be built according to very strict specifications,” Speakman said. “As soon as we establish interment guidelines and an application process we will share that with the public.”

The cemetery was designed by architects Walcott, Adams and Verneuille and will be built by White-Spunner Construction, Inc. of Mobile.