Indiana General Assembly Approves Legislation to Support Veterans Memorial Shrine’s Columbarium Project

The Indiana General Assembly has unanimously passed legislation to support the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum (VNMSM) in Fort Wayne in their efforts to establish a columbarium for fallen Hoosier veterans.

The new law, sponsored by State Rep. Martin Carbaugh and authored by State Sen. Justin Busch, will help overcome a financial challenge that the nonprofit organization encountered while trying to build the columbarium. The VNMSM had received a generous donation of a three-piece columbarium structure with 157 niches for veterans but faced an unexpected state requirement to deposit $100,000 into a cemetery perpetual care fund. This fund is meant to ensure the ongoing maintenance of memorials and remains, but the financial burden threatened to halt the project.

“Our goal is to honor and respect Hoosier veterans by ensuring their resting places are maintained with care,” said Rep. Carbaugh. “This new law provides a sustainable funding structure, so the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum can continue to provide dignified resting places for those who have served our country.”

Sen. Busch explained that the legislation would waive the upfront deposit fee for the nonprofit organization, allowing them to move forward with the project without the financial obstacle.

“The Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum always goes above and beyond to honor veterans in the best way possible,” Sen. Busch said. “This law will eliminate the financial burden that had held up their efforts to create a respected resting place for Hoosier veterans.”

The columbarium, a structure designed to hold cremation urns and personal mementos in individual niches, will be exclusively for veterans. Proceeds from the niche sales will be placed into a trust fund dedicated to the care and maintenance of the columbarium and the grounds.

Columbariums, similar to the one being established at the VNMSM, are found in several other states as a way to honor veterans. For example, California’s Central Coast Veterans Memorial in Seaside and Florida’s National Cemetery in Bushnell both feature columbariums designed for veterans’ cremated remains. Texas and Virginia also have columbariums at their veterans’ cemeteries, offering dignified resting places for military families. These structures are part of a growing trend across the country to provide more options for veterans who choose cremation as their final resting arrangement.

The VNMSM’s 40-acre site already features various memorials, monuments, and a museum. The museum includes more than 2,000 artifacts from every American war and showcases a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Recent additions include the Korean War Memorial, which features statues of soldiers on patrol.

The legislation passed both the House and Senate unanimously and is now awaiting the governor’s approval.