To assist in the establishment, development and enhancement of a full-service Veterans Cemetery honoring all eligible Veterans and family member(s) who have served our nation. (Eligibility determined by USDVA).
The CCVCF Final Placement Support Program establishes a dedicated fund to help with costs for final disposition and placement for eligible Veterans and their loved ones at the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery (CCCVC). Despite a Veteran’s honorable service and eligibility for low- or no-cost placement, many families still face financial hardship covering expenses related to preparation of the body for cremation or burial and costs associated with placement of an eligible family member. Funds will directly assist with these costs. This initiative meets a critical and often overlooked need, while upholding the values of honor, remembrance, and gratitude for those who served our nation.
The California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery (CCCVC), located in Seaside and unincorporated Monterey County, serves Veterans across the region, including Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and San Luis Obispo counties. With over 100,000 Veterans in the area, the CCCVC offers dignified burial options for honorably discharged Veterans and their eligible family members. The Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation (CCVCF) played a key role in securing funding for construction by raising critical matching funds for federal and state grants, enabling the completion of the first two of eleven planned phases. These include cremation and in-ground burial options. CCVCF continues to raise funds to cover costs not met by government support and hosts commemorative events to honor Veterans and their families. Their work ensures local burial options are available, easing the emotional and financial burden on families who would otherwise have to travel to distant national cemeteries.
After 23 years as Director of the Sonoma County Veterans Service Office, I accepted the same role in Monterey County, motivated in part by the opportunity to help establish a veterans cemetery at the former Fort Ord. Although I had no prior connection to Fort Ord, the project felt deeply meaningful. During my interview, I committed to dedicating seven years to the effort. A year after retiring seven years later, I joined the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation (CCVCF) Board of Directors. The California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery was ultimately established more than 20 years after CCVCF's founding. I’m proud to have played a small part in making it a reality. However, the work isn’t finished. The cemetery continues to grow and evolve, and it still needs community support to fully realize the vision of a lasting monument that honors our Veterans and their families.
- Richard Garza, Prunedale
