Groundbreaking set for veterans chapel

The Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City will soon have a chapel.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the nondenominational chapel will take place at 1:30 p.m. Monday as part of the Disabled Veteran's Memorial Day Service.

The 8-year-old cemetery at 1900 Buchanan Blvd. is the second most utilized state veterans cemetery in the nation, with more than 1,200 burials conducted yearly.

The 4,800-square-foot chapel will be a multipurpose facility that can hold up to 400 people and capable of handling two simultaneous services or functions, as well as providing space for private memorials and visitations.

Operation Godspeed, a nonprofit organization established in 1991 dedicated to honoring veterans of all wars, has been raising funds for the chapel for more than a year.

More than $700,000 of the estimated $1.2 million needed to build the chapel has been raised. Godspeed volunteers will continue to raise funds while the chapel is being built.

The building, which will be used for Memorial Day services, Veterans Day services and veterans meetings, will include a 10,000-square-foot plaza area with a fire pit for traditional flag disposal.

A pathway called the "Walk of Life" will lead up to the chapel, with each stone memorializing men and women who have served in the military, Doug Bradford, spokesman for Operation Godspeed, said. Memorial stones can be purchased at a cost of $100 to $1,000.

A memorial chapel fund has been set up at Bank of America, account number 111670964, and contributions can be made at any branch.

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