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Podcasts Take Two
SoCal vets look for burial place close to home
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May 26, 2014
Listen • 4:48
SoCal vets look for burial place close to home
A bill is moving forward in the legislature to create the first state-run veterans cemetery in Southern California. It would occupy a section of the former El Toro Marine Air Base in Orange County.
Bill Cook believes growing the Great Park in Irvine includes a veterans cemetery. Cook said 133,000 military veterans live in Orange County and the nearest vets cemetery is more than 45 miles away in Riverside.
Bill Cook believes growing the Great Park in Irvine includes a veterans cemetery. Cook said 133,000 military veterans live in Orange County and the nearest vets cemetery is more than 45 miles away in Riverside.
(
Ed Joyce/KPCC
)
Apple Jacobs at her husband's gravestone at the Riverside National Cemetery. There is no shortage of burial space at this veterans cemetery, but many of the 133,000 veterans now living in Orange County hope that one day there will be a place closer for their survivors to visit.
Apple Jacobs at her husband's gravestone at the Riverside National Cemetery. There is no shortage of burial space at this veterans cemetery, but many of the 133,000 veterans now living in Orange County hope that one day there will be a place closer for their survivors to visit.
(
Ed Joyce/KPCC
)
Apple Jacobs at her husband Bob's grave at the Riverside National Cemetery in early May. Bob Jacobs, 67, a Vietnam veteran, died in October 2012. She says if he were interred in Orange County, she'd visit more often.
Apple Jacobs at her husband Bob's grave at the Riverside National Cemetery in early May. Bob Jacobs, 67, a Vietnam veteran, died in October 2012. She says if he were interred in Orange County, she'd visit more often.
(
Ed Joyce/KPCC
)
Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (L) has introduced legislation to establish a veterans cemetery in Orange County. Bill Cook (R) wants that cemetery to be located in the Great Park (background), which was the El Toro Marine Air Base when he flew from there to Vietnam in 1968.
Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (L) has introduced legislation to establish a veterans cemetery in Orange County. Bill Cook (R) wants that cemetery to be located in the Great Park (background), which was the El Toro Marine Air Base when he flew from there to Vietnam in 1968.
(
Ed Joyce/KPCC
)

A bill is moving forward in the legislature to create the first state-run veterans cemetery in Southern California. It would occupy a section of the former El Toro Marine Air Base in Orange County.

A bill is moving forward in the legislature to create the first state-run veterans cemetery in Southern California. It would occupy a section of the former El Toro Marine Air Base in Orange County.

Reporter Ed Joyce says the closure of the Los Angeles National Cemetery has forced southland vets and their families to find burial plots far from home.