Fort Smith National Cemetery to get $2.06 million

The national cemeteries in Fort Smith, Fayetteville and Little Rock will receive a total of $2,254,693 in Recovery Act funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a press release issued Monday (Aug. 16) from the office of  U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.

Funds will be used to do repair work on gravesites, purchase equipment and support additional projects. The graves of veterans, military personnel and their spouses are located at national cemeteries.

Fort Smith National Cemetery will use $2,069,611 of its funds to raise and realign headstones and repair about 12,000. In addition, $2,212 will go toward the purchase of lawn mowing equipment.

Fayetteville National Cemetery will use $92,829 of its funds to reseal its roads, $16,415 to paint buildings, and $18,626 to purchase lawn mowing equipment.

Little Rock National Cemetery will use $36,250 of its funds to renovate the Minnesota Monument, which was unveiled in 1916 and is dedicated to 162 Minnesota soldiers who were killed in Arkansas during the Civil War. In addition, the cemetery will use $18,750 to paint its administration and maintenance buildings.