Fitial signs CNMI, Rota veterans’ cemetery laws

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed into law two bills related to veterans’ cemeteries, including one that officially establishes by law the existing federally funded CNMI Veterans Cemetery in Marpi.

The governor signed on Monday Rep. Teresita Santos’ House Bill 17-172 into Public Law 17-60, designating a hectare of public land on Rota for the future site of the Rota Veterans Cemetery.

In her bill, Santos (Ind-Rota) said the people and veterans on Rota want to have a veterans’ cemetery on their island, citing the financial burden and other difficulties related to traveling to Saipan every time they want to visit the graveyard of their deceased loved ones who served in the military.

Fitial also signed on Tuesday Rep. Ray Yumul’s (R-Saipan) House Bill 17-144 into Public Law 17-61, to officially establish the existing CNMI Veterans Cemetery.

Yumul thanked the governor for “swiftly signing the bill into law.”

“Our veterans’ cemetery is now officially established and it is fitting that we continue to honor those who have served our armed forces and provide for a final resting place for them and their loved ones,” Yumul told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

The CNMI received over $1.67 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in August 2005 to build the CNMI Veterans Cemetery. Construction started a month later.

While the project has since been completed, it “has not been formally established by law,” said Yumul.

Yumul said the CNMI Veterans Cemetery is officially established under the jurisdiction and control of the Office of Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs. He said the measure also sets guidelines for the operation, maintenance, and funding of the veterans cemetery.

Persons eligible for interment at the cemetery include any former member or member of the armed forces who was born in the CNMI or was a resident of the CNMI at entrance to or separation from the armed forces, or was a resident of the CNMI for two consecutive years.

Others eligible to be buried at the veterans’ cemetery include spouses, widows, or widowers of eligible active duty member or veteran; surviving spouse of a veteran whose remarriage was annulled or declared void; and minor children of an eligible active duty member of veterans who are unmarried.

Others are the adult children of an eligible active duty member or veterans who were declared physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before reaching 21 years old; commissioned officers of other services who were detailed or transferred to active duty and who served honorably; and the remains of eligible persons previously interred in other locations.