Veteran’s Cemetery Town Hall Hearing

  City of Anaheim City Council Chambers, November 21, 2025  

City of Anaheim City Council Chambers, November 21, 2025.  A town hall meeting was held by California State Assemblywoman Sharon Quick-Silva to provide an update on the proposed new Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon.  The town hall started with opening remarks from local officials, who stressed the importance of the Gypsum Canyon site as a potential final resting place for Southern California’s veterans. City leaders highlighted the collaborative efforts between municipal and state agencies, recognizing the years of advocacy by veterans’ groups and community organizations. Their statements set a tone of unity and resolve, emphasizing the shared goal of establishing a dedicated and respectful cemetery for those who served.  State Veterans’ Cemetery. California State Senator Thomas Umberg attended the presentation. Several elected officials spoke of their support, as did fellow elected officials from the state, Orange County, and all OC city council members. The Anaheim City Council Chamber was filled beyond capacity with veterans and concerned citizens.  Heartfelt and informational speeches from Gold Star Mother Nancy Soltes, California State American Legion Commander David Bambillas, and Nick Berardino from VALOR, a group of veterans that have played a key role in advancing the cemetery proposal for over 13 years.    The atmosphere in the chamber was marked by deep respect for veterans, as attendees wore military insignia and shared personal stories that underscored the significance of the proposed cemetery.  Throughout the meeting, several members of the veterans’ community expressed hope that the project would honor the sacrifices of service members and provide a dignified resting place for future generations.  Also speaking were Orange County Supervisor Donald P. Wagner, Tim Deutsch, General Manager of the  Orange County Cemetery District, and Thomas “Mat” Miller, Chief Real Estate O icer of Orange County.  Also giving presentations were Jason Kenney, Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of  General Services, and Roberto Herrera, Deputy Director of Veterans Services, CALVET.  Many participants expressed concerns about the timeline and transparency of the process, urging  officials to clarify the next steps and provide regular updates to the community. The strong turnout and  emotional testimonies underscored the urgent need for action and strengthened the collective  commitment to making the cemetery a reality for Southern California veterans.  What was presented was: the law requires electricity, water, roadways, and sewer lines to be in place to  the property line before any on-site grading or construction can begin.  The estimated cost of “phase one”  is approximately $123,000,000.00.  The total funds committed at this hearing are approximately  $53,000,000.00.   Through cooperative e orts between the OC Cemetery District and the State Veterans  Cemetery, sharing the required utilities and roadways insulation could result in significant cost savings of  approximately $10,000,000.00 or more.    No resolutions were achieved. Legislation must be approved by the CA State Assembly for future project  funding. CALVET believes federal approval and funding are essential, while the Federal VA expects state  action first. The issue was mentioned but not addressed. The state's 2026 budget shortfall was briefly  noted without discussion. CALVET neither made commitments nor offered suggestions. Assembly  Woman Quick-Silva requested responses from CALVET but received none.  The next steps mentioned  were for CALVET to accept receipt of the cemetery property from the Orange County Cemetery District,  so the next steps in the project could move forward. The federal government will not make any moves until this occurs. 

John Carson  

CAVFW District 2 Commander