MOUND CITY CEMETERY HOLDS AN EARLY VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

Roger R. Rapp received a deed to a 3.6-acre parcel of land Tuesday morning.

Rapp, director of field operations for the National Cemetery Administration at Washington, D.C., was in Southern Illinois to take part in an early Veterans Day program at the Mound City National Cemetery."Veterans Day is Thursday," said Rapp, "but for this occasion, we're unofficially observing Veterans Day today."The ceremonies at the 137-year-old Mound City National Cemetery, located at the intersection of Routes 37 and 51 near Mound City, served a three-fold purpose:n The program included the regular Veterans Day program, with local, state and national speakers.n The program was dedicated to the memory of the late Ann Hogendobler Nottage, who served on the cemetery's Preservation Commission until her death on Sept. 8.n The day's activities also served as a dedication for the expansion of the cemetery, which was on the closure list, scheduled for closing early in the 21st century, before last week.

The 3.6-acre deed assured another 2,000 grave sites to the current 12-acre cemetery, which already includes more than 7,500 burials."It was great that someone stepped forward to help keep the cemetery open deep into the 21st century," said Rapp. "It is our goal to keep all veterans cemeteries open."Rapp, who has been in his position since 1987, oversees 117 national cemeteries."We opened number 117 this month," said Rapp. The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery opened in Joliet, Ill., Oct. 3, with the first burial just over a week later."The Joliet cemetery is a large one," said Rapp. "The newest veterans cemetery has more than 980 acres and is open to Chicago area veterans."More than a million veterans live in Chicago.

New veteran cemeteries and expansions of existing veterans cemeteries have been much-discussed topics during the past year.

As many as 1,000 World War II veterans are dying each day. Many Korean veterans are dying, and it won't be long before that starts happening to Vietnam veterans.

Of the three federal veterans' cemeteries in Missouri, two are filled and the third, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, is nearing capacity. State veterans cemeteries are easing the expected crisis. "We opened a Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Springfield last week, and will open another state facility at Higginsville, Mo., this weekend," said Rapp.

At least two more state cemeteries are on the planning board, including one at Bloomfield in Southeast Missouri. The federal helps in the financing of the state facilities. And a portion of the admission charge levied on customers of gaming boats in Missouri provides funding to operate the state facilities.

There is little difference in state and national veterans cemeteries, said Rapp. All requirements for burial in the veterans cemetery are the same. The only difference is that the state can restrict burial to veterans in their respective states.

The national cemetery at Mound City is open to veterans from anywhere -- Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri, western Kentucky and so on.

On hand for the ceremonies Tuesday was Ralph E. Church, director of the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Church is also in charge of operations at the Mound City National Cemetery."At least two more state veteran cemeteries are in planning stages in Missouri," said Church. That includes a proposed cemetery at Bloomfield in Southeast Missouri.

Michael Crider, manager of Players Island Casino, which hosted Tuesday's dedication and ceremony, presented a $12,500 check to the Mound City Cemetery Preservation Commission to finish paying for the new 3.6-acre addition to the current cemetery. "Players is proud to take part in this expansion," said Crider. "The Mound City cemetery is a historical site that has a great deal of impact on this region. It is a privilege to honor the veterans who have given so much to this country."Crider hinted that more funds could be forthcoming to help in the remodeling of the historic caretakers building at the cemetery.

The Mound City Cemetery Preservation was created in 1991 to keep the building intact and to lead a campaign to expand the cemetery.

A lengthy list of people and organizations have donated toward the acquisition of the land to expand the cemetery, and the donation by Players Island Casino allowed the commission to complete the sale last Friday.

Roy "Buddy" Walls of Mounds, Ill., served as master of ceremonies for Tuesday's program.