Veterans' Commission & Veterans' Interment

The responsibilities of New Jersey counties with respect to burial of veterans are specified in New Jersey Statute 38:17, most sections of which date back to 1902. The law provides that the boards of freeholders in the counties are responsible for the burial of indigent veterans and the decoration of all veterans' graves on Memorial Day. As per 38:17-2 (1912, last amended in 1950), veterans' interment responsibilities in each county are directed by the Supervisor of Veterans' Interment, who is appointed by the board of freeholders.

A 1945 addition to the law, the "Act concerning registration of veterans' graves. . ." (38:17-12, last amended in 1946), states that the Supervisor is responsible for keeping registration records of veterans' graves. The Supervisor is "charged with the duty of keeping the records up-to-date; of assembling, recording, checking, correcting and filing any and all records, charts or maps concerning the location within his county of the places of burial of veterans of all wars.

This cemetery was established in 1999, by the Cumberland County Chosen Freeholders. To be buried here, you must have been a member of the military or married to a member of the military.

The Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders has commissioned a Cumberland County Military Service Medal to recognize local Veterans’ who honorably served their country and their county. Under the guidance of the Cumberland County Veterans’ Commission a design has been selected incorporating the official County flag. It depicts the County Liberty Bell surrounded by 14 stars representing each of the County’s municipalities. It also includes the inscribed date of 1748, which is the year Cumberland County was founded.

Any Veteran residing in Cumberland County may apply for a Military Service Medal. Veterans' are asked to fill out the application form and send it, along with the required documents, to: P.J. Paten, Cumberland County Veterans Interment/Affairs Officer, 99 West Broad Street, Bridgeton, NJ, 08302. An application form may also be requested by calling the Veterans Interment/Affairs Office at (856) 459-3071 by Friday, March 12, 2010. Once applications are received with documentation of military service, a formal invitation to the medal ceremony will be mailed to veterans and their guests.

The Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Cumberland County Veterans Commission will recognize residents who performed honorable service in the U.S. Armed Forces during a medal ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home, 524 Northwest Blvd., Vineland.