The governor broke ground for the new Iowa Veterans Cemetery on Saturday.

“When I learned that we did not have as many opportunities as we needed in this state to provide for a final resting place, a sacred place, I began work with Patrick [Palmersheim] and others, veterans’ organizations across the state, to try and make this day possible,” said Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Palmersheim is the executive director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.

Vilsack said he hoped the Iowa Veterans Cemetery would be complete by the next Veterans Day.

Although Iowa has federal veterans cemeteries in Keokuk and Marshalltown, there has never been a state veterans cemetery.

The land for the cemetery, which is located south of Interstate 80 on the Van Meter exit 113, was donated by Bill Knapp, Polk County developer, and Ronald Kenyon, owner of Ronald Kenyon Construction Company.

“This particular project was one that clearly would not have happened but for the generosity of these two families,” Vilsack said.

“These two families care deeply about our state and deeply about our country.”

Fundraising for the project began on Veterans Day in 2003 when the state issued Iowa Veterans Medals for public sale, with the money going toward the veterans cemetery.

Since then, more than 2,500 medals have been sold, raising more than $92,000.

Richard Goebel, veteran and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, took part in the fundraising.

“I bought some for myself and brought some back to Dubuque and sold them to the people in Dubuque to help fund this cemetery,” Goebel said.

He also said most states already have a state veterans cemetery.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will also help fund the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

“Through the state cemetery grants program, the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide federal grant of about $7 million to design, construct and equip this cemetery,” said VA spokesman Wayne King said.

Lee Booten, Dean of the Iowa Veterans Council, said there are about 280,000 veterans in Iowa. He also said Iowa has more veterans per capita than most states.

“We have a lot of veterans in this state,” Booten said.

“This is going to be really big for the state of Iowa.”

Gerald Pallesen, a member of Bugles Across America, played “Taps” during Saturday’s groundbreaking ceremony.

The group, which has approximately 80 members in Iowa, has volunteers who play “Taps” for military funerals at no charge.

Pallesen said in 2000, Congress passed a law that said the United States would provide two uniformed personnel to fold and present a flag, as well as provide a boom box or a tape recording of “Taps.”

“That’s not quite the tribute we should have for our fallen heroes,” Pallesen said.

Pallesen travels across and outside the state of Iowa with his bugle. He said there is beginning to be a shortage of live buglers.

As the veterans from World War II die, veterans cemeteries fill and Pallesen and his buglers play more funerals.

“I had over 20 last month. I had one every day last week,” Pallesen said.

“This last Monday, I was scheduled for three funerals.”

With help from his daughter, who also plays the bugle, Pallesen said he was able to make sure “Taps” was played at all of the funerals.

“I had over 2,000 miles last month alone to travel to funerals,” Pallesen said.