WDVA announces preferred site for Tri-Cities Veterans Cemetery.
Today, the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) announced the preferred site for its State Veterans Cemetery, Tri-Cities project. The agency selected a parcel in the City of Richland, in the Horn Rapids area off State Route 240. This 140-acre parcel was reserved by the City in August 2025 for a no-cost public purpose transfer to WDVA to build a State Veterans Cemetery.
“This announcement is the culmination of the support received from the Tri-Cities Veterans community,” said WDVA Director David Puente, Jr. “It is inspiring to see Veterans coming together championing this project alongside their elected officials from all levels of government. I look forward to our work together as this dream becomes a reality.”
This journey began in 2017 when WDVA identified the Tri-Cities region as one of significant need for a State Veterans Cemetery. Thanks to the support of the Veterans Community, our Governor, and Federal, State, and Local Elected Officials, we are moving forward with our commitment to ensuring Veterans and their families have access to their earned Veterans benefit of a dignified resting place where service and sacrifice are forever honored and remembered.
In early 2024, WDVA began identifying state- and privately-owned land suitable for a second state Veterans cemetery and that spring, held a Community Town Hall sharing project information with interested community members. Washington’s current State Veterans Cemetery is located in Medical Lake, near Spokane. WDVA started a Pre-Design Study in November 2025, which included an evaluation of two potential sites. The evaluation included testing of soils, topography, archeological reviews, costs, accessibility, environment and many other areas that are critical to ensuring a suitable location is chosen to honor the service and sacrifice of the area’s military veterans. Following this thorough process, the Richland site was identified as best option for the new cemetery.
Next steps:
- March 25, Community Invited to Tri-Cities Veterans Cemetery Project Town Hall
- April 15, 2026, finalize review of predesign report.
- April 30, 2026, receive final predesign report.
- Work with City of Richland on land transfer process.
- Continue work with City of Richland on opportunities for federal funding and the latecomer agreement process.
- Work with the Governor’s office and State Legislators on funding for land improvements
- Once land is owned by WDVA, funding is available for site improvements, and funding is available for the 10% construction match, WDVA will apply for the NCA State Veteran Cemetery Construction program grant which will fund 90% of the construction project.
- The federal grant application for the cemetery funding is due July 31, 2026.
This parcel offers ease of access for families travelling to the region who are unfamiliar with the Tri-Cities area. The parcel is located directly off SR-240 and will be visible from the roadway as the site is developed over the years.
We believe the site can be developed to give families and visitors a more intimate and secluded feeling.
WDVA is extremely fortunate to have support from the area’s Federal, State, and Local elected officials and community leaders, as well as cooperation from the City of Richland and their partners throughout this process. As this project moves forward, WDVA will continue engaging with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation to ensure needs of Native American Veterans and their families are considered and that federal, tribal, and state archeological processes are honored.
We will continue the dialogue with these parties moving forward as the project will benefit the entire Tri-Cities region.
Stay tuned as we continue the journey to bring a State Veterans Cemetery to the Tri-Cities region! This is a multi-year process, and WDVA invites you to stay connected throughout.
For more information or questions, please contact WDVA at:
- Email: CemeteryTri-Cities@dva.wa.gov,
- Sign up for e-newsletter email updates
- Keep track of progress at Future Tri-Cities Cemetery | WDVA
