Northern Utah is set to gain a new veterans cemetery in Washington Terrace, following a significant funding award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The federal agency’s National Cemetery Administration announced it has allocated $16.5 million for two Utah projects, with the larger portion dedicated to establishing the new facility in Weber County and additional funds directed towards expanding the existing Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale.
The new Northern Utah Veterans Cemetery, planned for Washington Terrace, is expected to cover 75 acres on a 100-acre parcel of state-controlled land in Weber County, according to the department. This facility is projected to have the capacity to serve 4,000 veterans and their family members in the region.
A substantial grant of $14.7 million has been specifically allocated for the new Washington Terrace cemetery. This funding will support critical initial construction, including administrative and maintenance buildings, along with other essential supporting infrastructure. Furthermore, the grant will enable the development of 500 pre-placed crypts, 600 recessed spaces for cremated remains known as columbarium niches, and 550 in-ground gravesites, as outlined by the agency in a news release.
Development of the Washington Terrace cemetery may begin in 2027, according to KSL, with the initial phase of construction anticipated to last approximately one year. The state of Utah is expected to be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the new cemetery.
In addition to the Washington Terrace project, almost $2 million was awarded to the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale. This funding is designated to expand the existing facility by building 1,400 new columbarium niches. The funds will also cover important landscape and irrigation work at the Bluffdale park, which currently serves over 102,000 veterans and their family members.
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Sam Brown emphasized the impact of these grants in the release, stating they “enable the states to better serve Veterans and their families where they live.” Brown further noted that because of this program, over 94% of veterans residing in the United States have access to the burial benefits they have earned at a cemetery within 75 miles of their homes. The agency reported that more than 44,700 veterans and family members were interred in cemeteries that have received funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2025.
