Veterans and family members in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia now have the option of burial in the new National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, announced.

A five-acre section permitting about 3,700 burial spaces will be opened to allow burials to begin even before the cemetery's construction is completed. A construction contract to develop a total of 80 acres for approximately 19,000 burial sites will be awarded this fall. VA expects to complete that project in 2007.

The 292-acre site is in Washington County, about 12 miles south of Pittsburgh. The cemetery is expected to serve veterans in 16 counties of western Pennsylvania and three in northern West Virginia. About 323,000 veterans live within 75 miles of the site.

When construction of the cemetery's initial phase is completed in 2007, the site will include an administration and maintenance complex, three committal service shelters, a public information center with electronic gravesite locator and restrooms, a flag assembly area and a memorial walkway and donations area.

Burial space will include 15,000 gravesites, a columbarium to hold 3,000 cremation remains and 1,250 in-ground cremation burial sites. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from a VA Website or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information on the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies can be obtained by calling 724-746-4363.