CalVet Opens Veterans Cemetery in Monterey County

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CalVet Opens Veterans Cemetery in Monterey County

Seaside, CA -- The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) today hosted the opening of our new California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery (CCCVC) in Seaside. Situated on the former Fort Ord Army Post, the cemetery both honors Veterans and memorializes the Monterey Bay area’s rich military history.

“Our new California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery is truly sacred ground where, for generations to come, people can remember and honor the brave men and women who answered our nation’s call,” said Dr. Vito Imbasciani, CalVet Secretary. “The collaborative effort to make the cemetery a reality stands as a permanent reminder of the Monterey Bay Area’s commitment to honoring our Veterans.”

As part of the opening ceremony, CalVet conducted an interment with military funeral honors for Major Bill Williams, U.S. Army (Retired) and his wife Maria Williams.

“This is truly a celebration because it gives us the ability to grant our parents’ final wish thanks to the hard work and effort by so many people in support of our Veterans,” said Deborah Page, one of the Williams’ daughters.

Maj. Williams was one of five members of the United Veterans Council of Monterey who were charged in 1992 to create a Veterans cemetery on the grounds of Fort Ord Army Post, which was slated for closure. The others were Jack McDonough, Charles Hopper, Malcolm Giblin, and Jack Stewart, who alone survived to see the cemetery open.

“Thanks to the profound and continuing resolve by local Veterans, a legacy is bestowed to honor past, present, and future Veterans and their families with a place of enshrinement they so richly deserve,” said Stewart. “It is sad indeed, that the four other assigned committee members are not here to celebrate this legacy. May my friends rest in peace knowing they completed their task.”

Also in attendance were former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, U.S. Representative Sam Farr of Carmel, State Senator Bill Monning of Carmel, State Assemblymember Mark Stone of Santa Cruz, George Eisenbach from the National Cemetery Administration, and Michael Houlemard from the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, all of whom were instrumental in securing federal, state, and local support for the cemetery.


For more information about CCCVC, please contact Daria Maher, Cemetery Director, at Daria.Maher@calvet.ca.gov, call the Cemetery at (831) 393-9371, or visit www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/Sta ... eries.aspx.

CCCVC is the third California Veterans Cemetery, joining our Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo and our Yountville Veterans Cemetery near Napa. In addition, there are nine National Veterans Cemeteries in California operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.