Interest, support growing for area veterans cemetery

American flags are placed at grave sites in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield. (Photo by Bob Greenlee, Staff)

leonnah@standard-democrat.com

BLOOMFIELD -- When it opened nearly 11 years ago, the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield was conducting about 12 services a month.

Today 30 services are conducted each month, according to cemetery director Ken Swearengin.

"The cemetery is getting busier," Swearengin said. "A lot of that has to do with more interest and increased knowledge that it's here."

Located on Highway 25 on the southern edge of Bloomfield and adjoining the historical Stars and Stripes military newspaper museum, the cemetery has 6,000 veterans who've pre-arranged to be buried at the cemetery on file and over 10,000 plots available, Swearengin said.

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