BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- When it opened nearly 11 years ago, the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield was conducting about 12 services a month.
Today 30 services are conducted each month, according to cemetery director Ken Swearengin.
"The cemetery is getting busier," Swearengin said. "A lot of that has to do with more interest and increased knowledge that it's here."
Located on Highway 25 on the southern edge of Bloomfield and adjoining the historical Stars and Stripes military newspaper museum, the cemetery has 6,000 veterans who've pre-arranged to be buried at the cemetery on file and over 10,000 plots available, Swearengin said.
A Memorial Day ceremony is planned for 1 p.m. Monday at the committal shelter.
"We will start with the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem, an invocation and POW/MIA table ceremony," Swearengin said.
Keynote speaker will be retired Gen. Charles Kruse of Dexter.
"He is an excellent speaker and very patriotic individual," Swearengin said of Kruse.
Of the 65 acres at the cemetery, only half of the land is developed so far, he noted. Overall, the cemetery has an approximate capacity of 27,000 grave sites.
Swearengin pointed out the cemetery was built by the federal government and has an operational budget through state funds.
"These funds are used for salaries, fuel for the mowers and the daily operations of the cemetery," Swearengin said.
However, when something needs to be replaced or an item not covered by the operational budget is wanted, the cemetery must use funds from other sources, such as the nonprofit Bloomfield Assistance League of the Missouri Veterans Cemetery.
For example, last year the public address system broke, but the operational budget couldn't be used to purchase a replacement, Swearengin said. Through donated funds to the Assistance League, the PA system was replaced.
Another need, Swearengin said, came about two weeks ago when a big stone marker at a grave site was struck by lightning. The funds to fix the marker, which costs around $1,000 to $2,000, are not available from the operating budget, he said.
"With the Assistance League they're there to help us and they have helped us," Swearengin said.
Through donations, the League has also helped pay to fix the cemetery's bell tower and install a heating system for the committal shelter where funeral services are held, Swearengin said.
"A lot of things we do like that are funded through those donations to the Assistance League," Swearengin said.
And there seems to always be a project that needs funding.
"Right now we have a program where the federal government has put Abraham Lincoln plaques of the Gettysburg Address in all of the state and federal cemeteries. So we have the bronze plaque but no funding to install it," Swearengin said.
Through the Assistance League, funds are being used to pour concrete and a large rock to place the plaque, Swearengin said.
Among the organizations that made major contributions to the League is the American Legion Post 114 in Sikeston. Last September, the Sikeston Legion hosted its first poker run and cook-off competition, with proceeds benefitting the cemetery. Over $10,000 was raised and put in the Assistance League fund. (See separate article on this year's event May 30-31).
Jimmy Cantrell, who volunteers with the Sikeston Legion's cook-off competition, said the region is fortunate to have the state cemetery in Bloomfield.
"People may not realize the cemetery is not federally funded. The upkeep on the building and salaries are paid by state funds, but anything else is paid for by donations," Cantrell said.
That's why, Cantrell said, the Legion once again chose the cemetery to benefit from the upcoming second annual poker run and cook-off competition May 30-31 in Sikeston.
Swearengin attended last year's fundraiser for the cemetery.
"We really enjoyed last year's program at Sikeston," Swearengin said. "The cook-off and auction were a good time, and it was an enjoyable day.
He continued: "We are grateful to groups like the American Legion in Sikeston because they're a big help to the cemetery."