Anaheim Hills, CA – Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Lou Correa (CA-46) led 18 California delegation members in a bipartisan letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs urging support for an Orange County Veterans Cemetery. Despite being the largest county in California and home to more than 100,000 veterans, Orange County does not have a dedicated veterans cemetery. This long-overdue effort ensures our veterans are properly honored and their family members have easier access to their resting loved ones.
Rep. Kim sent a letter to the National Cemetery Administration in support of the California Department of Veterans Affairs’ (CalVet) $6 million grant application for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills in California’s 40th District.
Rep. Kim was joined in sending the letter by California Reps. Ken Calvert (CA-41), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jim Costa (CA-21), Vince Fong (CA-20), John Garamendi (CA-08), Darrell Issa (CA-48), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Dave Min (CA-47), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Scott Peters (CA-50), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Norma Torres (CA-35), Derek Tran (CA-45), David Valadao (CA-22), and Juan Vargas (CA-52).
Read the letter HERE or below.
As members of the California Congressional delegation, we write to express our strong support for the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program Pre-application submitted by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills, California.
Orange County is home to more than 100,000 veterans and yet remains the largest county in California without a dedicated veterans cemetery. While neighboring counties have established facilities, Orange County’s distinct geographic identity and accessibility challenges underscore the need for a local solution that honors its veteran community. Although Riverside National Cemetery is relatively close in terms of mileage, proximity does not equal accessibility. Severe traffic congestion and long travel times create real burdens for grieving families and aging loved ones—amounting to a significant barrier to access. For many, the distance to Riverside makes regular visits to honor and remember their loved ones unfeasible.
This lack of geographic equity has left Orange County’s veteran community underserved, despite their longstanding contributions to our nation’s military and public service. The proposed cemetery at Gypsum Canyon would fill this critical gap, ensuring that Orange County veterans have the same opportunity as others across the state to be laid to rest in their home community.
After years of delay due to a lack of consensus on an appropriate location, we are now united. The County of Orange, all 34 cities, a bipartisan majority of the County’s state and federal delegation, public safety and labor organizations, and more than 100 local, state and national veterans organizations are united in support of the Gypsum Canyon location. The Orange County Board of Supervisors has committed over 200 acres of land and $20 million for the development of a veterans cemetery at Gypsum Canyon. State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva and State Senator Thomas J. Umberg have secured an additional $35.5 million in state funding. With nearly $55.5 million secured, a dedicated site, and overwhelming public support, this project is not only needed but also ready to break ground and begin construction.
We respectfully urge you to consider CalVet’s pre-application fully and fairly, in accordance with the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program criteria and consistent with all applicable rules and regulations, and recognize this critical step toward achieving equity, access, and readiness for Orange County veterans and their families.
