Governor Dirk Kempthorne will be joined by national, state and local dignitaries as Idaho officially dedicates the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, July 31. The 10:00 a.m. ceremony will include a moving tribute to the men and women of the military, past, present and future.
Preliminary activities begin at 9:00 am. The public is
encouraged to arrive early, as parking for the event is offsite.
There will be bus shuttle service, including shuttles for the
handicapped, to the dedication assembly area. Prior to the
ceremony, the 25th Army Band will provide a musical prelude, the
five service flags will be raised, various veterans organizations
will be laying commemorative wreaths, and the POW/MIA flag will be arriving from the State Capitol
building, accompanied by a combined police motorcycle escort. Upon commencement of the
ceremony, both the POW/MIA flag and a spectacular 20’ x 30’ US Flag will be raised on a
magnificent hilltop set against the Boise foothills to be seen from all parts of the Treasure Valley.
In addition to distinguished speakers from the state and federal governments, the ceremony will include both the Idaho National Guard and the Mountain Home 366th Fighter Wing Honor Guards. Attendees will enjoy performances by the City of Boise Police Pipe and Drum Corps and the Faithful Men Choir, the firing of Civil War cannons provided by the Idaho Historical Museum, and a fly-over by Idaho Air National Guard A-10 fighter jets.
Idaho is the last state in the Union to establish a cemetery to honor
veterans. The opening of this final resting place for Idaho’s veterans
has been the result of many years of work by civic leaders and
countless veterans throughout the state.
Idaho has a long and exemplary tradition of patriotic contribution to our
nation’s welfare, particularly through the service of our young men and
women in uniform. From our Medal of Honor recipients to our Army
National Guard called to active duty in Iraq, Idahoans of every
generation have served with distinction.
The Idaho State Veterans Cemetery is located just north of West State Street, off of North Horseshoe Bend Road, on the boarder of Boise and Eagle. It is adjacent to Dry Creek Cemetery. Parking will be located across from the Cemetery. The Cemetery address is 10101 North Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise, Idaho 83714. Attendees will receive a commemorative pin and decal containing the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery logo.
The Idaho State Veterans Cemetery is the result of an $8.46
million dollar grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs,
National Cemetery Administration. The State of Idaho will
operate and maintain the Cemetery. The Cemetery spans over
76 acres in the beautiful Boise foothills, and will open for
interments this fall.
For further information, you can reach the Cemetery office staff
by calling 334-4796 or via e-mail at info@veterans.idaho.gov.