NH State Veterans Cemetery – 25 Year Celebration

Update: Our 25th Anniversary Commemoration is this Saturday, September 24th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We know there are A LOT of competing events that day, so we would be honored if you stopped by to say hello, visit our many wonderful supporters, or stick around and learn at one of our discussions. Here are the events for the day:

• 10:00 AM – a brief discussion and tour of the Memorial Walkway. Speakers will be former Cemetery Director, Roger Desjardins, and author of the upcoming book about the history of the NHSVC called “A Place in the Pines,” Mr. Rich Marsh. This will take place near the entrance of the Memorial Walkway by the NH Vietnam Monument.
• 11:00 AM – Gratitude Ceremony – we will conduct a brief ceremony to thank many of those who helped create the NHSVC. All previous directors and many NHSVC staff will be in attendance, as will NH governors, members of Congress, and state and local officials. The focus will be on GRATITUDE. This ceremony will take place at the Circle of Flags. There will be limited seating, so please consider bringing your own chair.
• 12:45 PM – A discussion about the CSM Stanley & Renate Arnold Veterans Heritage Learning Center (VHLC) and the NH Veterans Cemetery Association (NHVCA) will be hosted by NHVCA president, COL (Ret) Roger Turcotte, and NHVCA board member with oversight of the VHLC, CDR (Ret) David Kenney. The NHVCA has worked diligently to update the VHLC, to include adding new flooring and 3 new kiosks (currently being updated–working to get it done by 9/24). Stop by and see what’s new! This discussion will take place just outside the VHLC, which is on the south side of the Administration Building.
• 1:30 PM – learn about the new Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act which allows our state veterans cemetery to inter members of the Guard and Reserves. This session will be hosted by Congressman Chris Pappas and Col (Ret) Mike Horne. Our NH Congressional Delegation is largely responsible for getting this legislation signed into law, and we are honored that Congressman Pappas will assist with the discussion. This talk will take place in the chapel. Seating is available.

There will be information tables set up around the cemetery so you can learn about many of the groups and organizations that help our cemetery. We are GRATEFUL for their support and hope you will visit them and consider getting involved.

Please dress appropriately and consider bringing water. We will not have food available at the cemetery. Route 3 between the Route 4 intersection and Goodhue Road will be limited to cemetery traffic ONLY during this event. Parking on cemetery grounds will be limited to special guests and handicapped. If able, please park in the lot across from the front entrance or safely along Route 3. Please DO NOT park at the storage facility. We will have six golf carts to help transport guests to and from their vehicles (thank you North Country Golf Car). Thanks to the Boscawen Police and other volunteers for helping with traffic and golf cart transportation.