VA Secretary helps dedicate new national cemetery
Staff photo by Mary Kemper
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald addresses a capacity crowd at the Nov. 20 dedication of the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery at Scottsmoor.
Staff Writer
On a windswept and sunny afternoon Nov. 20, nearly 1,000 veterans, dignitaries, family, friends and community members attended the dedication of the Veterans Administration’s newest cemetery for veterans at Scottsmoor.
VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald was the keynote speaker at the dedication, which formally opened the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. In the background, huge heavy equipment vehicles stood idle in a long line, but construction has already begun.
Michael Prendergast, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, gave the opening remarks, and he was followed by U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, Don Murphy, director of the new cemetery and Ronald Walters, interim undersecretary for the VA’s Department of Memorial Affairs.