Veterans cemetery proposed for Jay Cooke State Park
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Gov. Tim Pawlenty is proposing a new state veterans cemetery in Jay Cooke State Park in northern Minnesota.
The proposed cemetery would be located on 60 acres on the park, which is 20 miles south of Duluth.
Pawlenty said the cemetery would serve veterans in northern Minnesotan and northern Wisconsin. He said more than 46,000 veterans live within 75 miles of the proposed site.
It would be in state Sen. Tony Lourey's district. Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, held back tears as he talked about his brother who was killed while serving Iraq.
"Having all too recently buried a brother in a veterans cemetery out in (Washington), D.C., I know the importance to our veterans to having a respectful place for them to meet their final resting place," Lourey said.
The Legislature needs to approve a land transfer in order for the cemetery plans to move forward. Pawlenty said he is confident that the federal government will pay for the cemetery.
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