State Veterans Commissioner Warns Middletown Cemetery Nearing Shortage, Seeks 50‑Acre Sites

Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch briefed the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Feb. 13 about capacity concerns at the state veterans cemetery in Middletown.

The cemetery (317 Bow Lane) opened Nov. 1, 1985, and currently contains 17,772 plots: 11,584 full‑casket plots, 3,138 in‑ground cremains plots and 3,000 columbarium niches, Welch said. Average usage over the last five years was provided, and Welch projected the near depletion of certain plot categories: cremains plots are expected to run out first, with estimates pointing to 2027 for cremains depletion under present usage rates.

Welch said the department has sought new property for expansion since 2018 and published a new request for proposals on Jan. 31, 2025 seeking a minimum of roughly 50 buildable acres to meet National Cemetery Administration grant criteria that support 20–40 years of capacity. The department received $3,000,000 in bonding last December for acquisition, master planning and initial site development and will submit a federal grant application once it holds title for a parcel.

Committee members asked whether an annex in close proximity to the current cemetery could be smaller than the 50‑acre minimum; Welch said annexes immediately adjacent to the current site can be treated as expansions and may not need 50 acres, while a new cemetery located separately would be treated as new construction subject to the 50‑acre guidance.

Welch emphasized that new cemetery construction requires significant infrastructure (power, water, roads, drainage and committal shelters) and that timing is urgent because federal grant cycles require a title in hand before a grant application can be made (next federal cycle referenced as July 1, 2025 with possible selections in October 2025).

Committee members expressed support for finding suitable land quickly and for coordinating with the Department of Administrative Services to secure needed sites that will preserve veterans’ access to a state‑operated burial option.