St. Paul, Minn. – Minnesota’s newest State Veterans Cemetery held its first interment this Veterans Day, honoring a Minnesota Veteran who dedicated his life to service. Surrounded by family and close friends, Durbin M. Keeney Jr. was laid to rest Sunday afternoon with full military honors at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Duluth.

“This Cemetery will expand burial services to the more than 32,000 Veterans who live in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Often, burial is the only benefit our Veterans claim,” said Larry Shellito, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner. “Durbin Keeney was a remarkable Veteran who not only served this country through the U.S. Air Force, but continued to serve in so many ways. He was instrumental in the opening of this Cemetery, and we will never forget his contributions to the Minnesota Veterans community.”

Keeney enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1969. He met us his future wife, Diane, while stationed in Duluth, and left for Vietnam in May of 1970. He served in Bien Hoa with the 3rd Security Military Police Unit. Keeney and Diane were married when he returned home, in 1971. Although honorably discharged from military service in 1973, he continued serving. In addition to fundraising for the Union Gospel Mission, Keeney founded the northern Chapter of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) in 1998, to assist homeless Veterans and their families, and served as the regional director of development for MACV until retiring in 2011. He was involved in dozens of community and Veteran organizations.

Keeney passed away May 4, 2014. His wife, Diane, said she was honored to have her husband’s ashes be the first placed in the columbarium at the new Cemetery.

Durbin was a wonderful advocate for Veterans,” said Diane Keeney, wife of the late Durbin Keeney. “Everywhere we go, people tell me how much they miss him, and the work he did to support Veterans. When [the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs] asked to have his be the first interment, I was overcome. He worked for so many years in support of opening this State Veterans Cemetery, and he always said he hoped he could see the first person laid to rest. It is overwhelming to know that first person will be him. Words just can’t express what an honor this is for our family.”

The addition of the Duluth State Veterans Cemetery in Minnesota is part of a nationwide campaign by the National Cemetery Administration to provide burial within 75 miles of a Veteran’s home. The closest VA national cemetery to this site is the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minn., which is approximately 160 miles away. The closest state cemetery is 90 miles away in Spooner, Wisc.

The new Cemetery is approximately 14 miles northwest of Duluth on US Highway 53. The 104 acre parcel includes an administration building, maintenance facility, assembly area, committal shelter, preplaced crypts and a columbaria. Ultimately, the project will develop 19 acres and include 850 pre-placed crypts, 407 traditional casketed burial spaces, 1,078 cremains gravesites and 720 columbarium niches. A formal grand opening event will be held next summer, upon completion of final construction and landscaping.

Bougalis & Sons Construction, from Hibbing, led the $9.2 million project. Stantec, an engineering and design firm in St. Paul, completed the design work. A federal grant from the National Cemetery Administration funded $8.3 million of the $9.6 million project; the balance was funded through state appropriation.

Minnesota’s other State Veterans Cemeteries, located in Little Falls and Preston, continue to receive local and national accolades. Last year approval ratings exceeded 97 percent for the handling of burials, overall appearance of grounds and availability and courtesy of staff. Additionally, the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls was also selected as a winner of the prestigious federal Excellence of Appearance Award from the National Cemetery Administration.

Burial at a State Veterans Cemetery is open to all Veterans discharged from active military service under conditions other than dishonorable. Their spouses, minor children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children, are also eligible for burial. Eligible spouses may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran. Also eligible for burial are members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the Reserve Officer Training Corps who die while on active duty for training or performing service or who have 20 years of service in reserve components of the Armed Forces creditable for retired pay.  There is no residency requirement for burial, Veterans from any State who meet eligibility criteria can chose burial at a Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery.

To pre-register for burial, or learn more about burial at a State Veterans Cemetery, including the Duluth Cemetery, please visit www.MinnesotaVeteran.org/CEM or call 1-888-LinkVet.

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About MDVA
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is a cabinet level state agency dedicated to serving Minnesota Veterans and their families. In addition to overseeing four skilled-care State Veterans Homes, MDVA helps eligible Veterans and families secure state and federal benefits and provides programs and services relating to higher education, benefits, burial, claims, outreach and Veterans employment. Veterans and their families are encouraged to visit www.MinnesotaVeteran.org or call 1-(888)-LinkVet for more information about benefits.