Founded in 2006, the Central Veterans Cemetery Foundation (CCVCF) is a 501c(3) nonprofit. CCVCF's purpose is to promote and support establishment of and improvements for a complete full-service Central Coast Veterans Cemetery providing a final resting place of honor for our nation's veterans and their spouses.
Learn how you can support us in honoring our veterans and their families.
For information regarding burial eligibility, visitation info and more info on the Cemetery, you may call their office directly at (831) 393-9371, or scroll down.
Location and mailing address:
2900 Parker Flats Road Seaside CA 93955
Phone: (831) 393-9371
Email: cccvc@calvet.ca.gov
Open Weekday Hours:
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
About Us
Situated within 45-square miles of dunes and forests, the 79-acre California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery sits on the former land of the renowned Fort Ord.
The California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery was developed as a result of coordination between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet); the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program; local, state and federal elected officials; the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation; and contributions provided by thoughtful and generous community donors—veterans, their families, veteran organizations, businesses, jurisdictions
and individuals. In 1988, the Base Realignment and Closure Act set to motion the decommission of Fort Ord, after having served the nation for 80 years. A 178-acre property was aside in 1991 to create the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery (CCCVC). The CCCVC is the second state-owned and operated California Veterans Cemetery developed and constructed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Cemetery Grants Program. The Cemetery opened on Tuesday, October 11, 2016.
The Central Coast Veterans Cemetary Foundation was founded in 2002. Its mission is to assist in the ongoing development of a full-service veterans cemetery to honor all veterans across branches and their families.
Donor support paved the way to the completion of the first two phases of an 11-phase master plan for the Cemetery’s construction. The over $2 million raised enabled the Foundation to meet the federal fund-match requirement to acquire necessary construction grants. Thanks to community support, the Cemetery placed its first cremation in October 2016. Continued donations allowed the CCCVC to accept its first in-ground burial in May 2021.
Donate
Contributions of any amount assure the continued existence of the Central Coast Veterans to provide a final resting place that honors all veterans for many years to come. As a nonprofit organization we operate on the generosity of donors.
Recommended Donation Amounts
| $5,000 | $1,000 | $500 | $250 | ANY AMOUNT |
1: Donate By Mail
To contribute by mail please print, complete, and send the donation form along with your gift to the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation, P.O. Box 849, Marina, CA, 93933.
2: Donate Online
You may also donate by credit card or electronic transfer via PayPal.
*All donations made online are secure and private. Donations made online are handled by third-party payment processors. PayPal donations are handled offsite.
3: Donate A Gift Of Lasting Endurance
Please consider a gift of lasting endurance: such as a legacy contribution, an annual contribution, a gift of stock, or a gift of other assets. Regardless of which you choose, an enduring gift of this kind is gracious and goes a long way to ensure a lasting legacy for our veterans and their families.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Foundation at (831) 218-1780.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness in honoring all veterans and their service.
The Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation is a 501c(3) public charity registered with the IRS and within the State of California as the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Nonprofit Corporation and doing business a the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation (CCVCF).
FAQS
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The Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation is 501c(3) charity organization with the purpose of raising money for the ongoing development of the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery (CCCVC).
The CCCVC is operated and managed by the State of California Department of Veterans Affairs. It is one of three California Veteran Cemeteries, offering services similar to that of its federal counterpart.
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California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) determines eligibility for burial in a California Veterans Cemetery in accordance with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) requirements for National Veterans Cemeteries.
Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial as well as other benefits if they meet one of these requirements:
The person qualifying for burial benefits is a Veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
The person qualifying for burial benefits is a service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.
The person qualifying for burial benefits is the spouse or minor child of a Veteran, even if the Veteran died first.
The person qualifying for burial benefits is in some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a Veteran.
For more info, please contact the Cemetery office directly at (831) 393-9371.
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Yes, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery offers services similar to those offered by its national counterparts to veterans and their families. Please contact the Cemetery office for full details.
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The Eligibility for Burial Benefits Determination (VSD-002) is required to determine the eligibility for burial in the Central Coast Veterans Cemetary, or any California State Cemetery. Please refer to the form for further info, including what additional materials you will need.
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No, State Veterans Cemeteries do not make funeral arrangements, provide mortuary services or perform cremations.
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There is no interment fee for eligible veterans. There is an interment fee for eligible spouses and dependent children, which is due at the time of interment. Please refer to CalVet’s Fee Waiver policy for more info.
Any additional expenses associated with the internment (such as a burial permit and funeral home expenses) are the responsibility of the veteran and/or family. Please contact your local County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) with questions concerning burial allowance and survivor benefits. A directory of CVSOs can be found here.
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Please note that State Veterans Cemeteries do not make funeral arrangements, provide mortuary services, or perform cremations, and such services are at the expense of the family.
For further info on scheduling and burial services, please refer to the Protocol for Scheduling and Burial Services by clicking here.
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All gravesites are assigned; they may not be reserved or selected in advance. Assignments are made without regard to rank, the branch of service, or other considerations.
Eligible dependents (spouse/child) are placed at the same gravesite as the veteran. In the case of two eligible veteran spouses, each individual will be entitled to their own gravesite, if desired. Adjacent gravesites may be requested/reserved for such veterans; please ask cemetery staff for more information at the time of scheduling by calling (831) 393-9371 .
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Please refer to the Monument Information and Inscription form for more info by clicking here.
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The Committal Shelter could serve as a space for service gatherings; however, it may provide insufficient protection during inclement weather. There are no indoor spaces for gatherings or services onsite.
Monterey County generally experiences mild winters and summers, but we do experience heavy storms at times, bringing substantial rains and winds to the area. It’s generally breezy at the Cemetery.
Please directly contact the Cemetery office for more information on contingency planning in the event of bad weather during a burial service.
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You must submit the Request for Disinterment (Form VSD-003).
Please note, the California Code of Regulations, Title 12, Section 464, allows disinterment in special circumstances, only, such as if the next of kin was not aware that the person had purchased a plot in a different cemetery.
Disinterment from a state veterans cemetery will be approved only when all living immediate family members of the decedent and the person who initiated the interment give their written consent, or when a court order directs the disinterment.
For more information, please click here to download the request form.
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Yes, news media must contact cemetery staff in advance to obtain approval prior to conducting a news story or covering a committal service or interment. Requests must include the reporter’s affiliation, proposed topic, and media deadline.
Approvals are contingent on the news media outlet providing the cemetery management contact info in the story. Cemetery management may impose restrictions on news media in order to comply with the wishes of family members, to maintain decorum, or to enforce CalVet policy.
Cemetery staff may be contacted by calling (831) 393-9371 .
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Yes, for visitation, pets, flowers, memorabilia, or other related policies, please refer to the Visitation Info section by clicking here.
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The Cemetery sits on fairly flat terrain and is generally navigatable to those with limited mobility. However, please contact the Cemetery’s office for any specific accommodation concerns.
The office may be reached by calling (831) 393-9371.
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A gravesite location kiosk is available on site to help you locate a particular gravesite or niche. The kiosk is available near the Cemetery office, which is located to your right just upon entering. Cemetery staff on-site can be of further assistance.
If you liked to know the location before your visit, CalVet’s gravesite locator is available online. Please visit https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/ngl/index.jsp.
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The Cemetery is located at 2900 Parker Flats Road Seaside CA 93955 and is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Directions can be downloaded by clicking here.
The Cemetary office can be contacted at (831) 393-9371. -
The Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) services the Monterey County area. Please note direct flights options to Monterey are limited. Please visit https://www.montereyairport.com/ for more info.
Alternatively, Monterey Airbus offers a shuttle service between Monterey, the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJO) and the San Francisco International airport (SFO). Please expect a commute time of three to four hours. Please visit https://www.montereyairbus.com/ for more info. Car rental services are also available at both SJO and SFO. It’s an hour to two-hour drive, respectively, if traveling by private vehicle. Please note traffic to and from the San Francisco Bay Area can be heavy at times. Please account for extended commute times, especially between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.Commuter train service is also available by Caltrain between San Francisco to Gilroy. You can then take the MST 55 bus From Gilroy to Monterey. Please visit https://www.caltrain.com/ for more info.
Private bus service to and from the San Francisco Bay Area is also available by FlixBus. Visit https://www.flixbus.com/.
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Parking is available near the Cemetery office (close to the entrance). Limited parking is also available at other locations on the grounds.
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The Cemetery is within reach of the Monterey-Salinas Transit system. Please expect some walking. Visit https://mst.org/ for more info.
Rideshare car services are also available via Uber or Lyft.
Please note that Monterey County is not a big or suburban city environment. Expect some wait time for public transportation or rideshare services.
For transportation options to and from the closest airports, please refer to the FAQ regarding airports.
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There are several accommodations within five miles of the Cemetary. There are also several more options from within a reasonable driving distance. For more info on lodging and other amenities, please visit https://www.seemonterey.com/.
Please note lodging may be limited, especially in the summer. The Big Sur Half Maraton, the California Rodeo Salinas, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Monterey Car Week/Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance are just a few local events that bring flocks of visitors to and around the Monterey area. Please plan accordingly.
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Monterey County generally has a temperate climate; however, this varies greatly depending on what part of the County you are in due to micro-climates determined by varying local geography.
For the most part, visitors can expect mild to moderate warm dry summers and wet winters. Occasionally, atmospheric storms from off the coast may sweep through the area during the winter, bringing heavy winds and rain.
When you visit the Cemetery, please plan on bringing a jacket, as the area can be breezy and cool at times.
For current forecasts, please visit https://ksbw.com/weather.
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Currently, the State of California operates three veteran cemeteries, including the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery.
The Northern California Veterans Cemetery, located near Redding, California, primarily serves the veteran population in the eighteen Northern-most California counties.
The Yountville Veterans Cemetery is located on 11 acres of oak-covered hills in the northwest corner of the Yountville Veterans Home.
For more info on the other two state cemeteries, please visit the CalVet website by clicking here.
Burial Eligibility
Burial Eligibility
California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) determines eligibility for burial in a state veterans cemetery in accordance with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) requirements for National Veterans Cemeteries. Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial as well as other benefits. Generally, a veteran who died on active duty, or served on active duty (other than for training) and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable is eligible. For a full eligibility criteria list please refer to the FAQ on eligibility below.
Getting an Eligibility Determination
The Eligibility for Burial Benefits Determination (VSD-002) is required to determine if you are a loved can be interned in a California State Cemetery. There is no cost for this determination and it does not obligate the veteran to be buried at the cemetery. Eligibility determinations shall be made in accordance with federal regulations (38 CFR 38.620) and state regulations (CCR, Title 12, Sections 460-461). Veterans or their families can apply at the time of need or on a pre-need basis.
Pre-Need Determination
Pre-need determination allows a veteran and his/her family to establish eligibility in advance and is intended to simplify and assist the veteran's next-of-kin at the time of death. Please contact the CalVet Cemetery office for more information.
Please note that the Central Coast Veterans Cemetary Foundation is not responsible for the operations and management of the Central Coast Veterans Cemetary. For more information on burial eligibility, or other Cemetery-related questions, please contact the State of California Department of Veterans Affairs Cemetery office directly (831) 393-9371 or visit the CalVet Cemetery website by clicking here.
News and Events
Attention: Women Veterans
If you or your relatives served in any branch of the military this is your chance to register for the memorial and provide your or their story. Scan the QR code below to take you to where you register.
If you would like to donate to support the Memorial scan the QR code below to make your contribution.
VA continues to expand access to health care and benefits for toxic-exposed Veterans as a part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a proposed rule outlining plans to expand the locations and time frames for which VA presumes exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. If this proposed rule becomes final, VA will implement a new presumption of exposure to locations where herbicides were tested, used, or stored outside of Vietnam. Specifically, this proposed rule would add locations in the United States (full list of US locations where Agent Orange was tested or stored), Canada, and India to the existing presumptives for Agent Orange in Vietnam, Cambodia, Johnson Atoll, Guam, American Samoa, Korea, Laos, and Thailand.
A presumption of exposure means that VA automatically assumes that Veterans who served in certain locations were exposed to certain toxins. Presumptives lower the burden of proof required to receive disability benefits, helping Veterans get the benefits they deserve as quickly as possible. This expansion of presumptives will help Veterans who served in the specified locations receive health care and benefits for certain cancers and chronic conditions. To be eligible, a Veteran must have served in the identified location(s) during a specific time period and currently have a condition(s) presumptively associated with herbicide exposure.
Delivering world-class health care and benefits to toxic-exposed Veterans is a top priority for VA and the Biden-Harris Administration. As a part of President Biden’s pledge to serve Veterans with military toxic exposures, over the past few years, VA has expanded presumptive service connection for more than hundreds of health conditions related to toxic exposures under the PACT Act – the largest expansion of Veteran care and benefits in generations. Thanks to this historic action, VA is delivering more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in U.S. history.
“This proposed change would make it easier for Veterans exposed to herbicides who served outside Vietnam to access the benefits they so rightly deserve,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “Our goal is to provide every Veteran – of every era – with the VA health care and benefits they deserve, and this is another step in the right direction.”
Veterans who want to file an initial claim for a herbicide-related disability can visit VA’s website, use VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, or work with a VA-recognized Veterans Service Organization to assist with the application process. Veterans may also contact their state Veterans Affairs Office. Survivors can file claims for benefits based on the Veteran’s service if the Veteran died from at least one of the recognized presumptive herbicide diseases.
This proposed rule also codifies provisions in the PACT Act, the Blue Water Navy Act of 2019, and the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021.
For more information about the changes, visit The Federal Register.
VA announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024.
As directed by President Biden, this expansion of VA health care eliminates the phased-in approach called for by the PACT Act — meaning that millions of Veterans are becoming eligible for VA health care up to eight years earlier than written into law. This is a critical step forward because Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans.
VA encourages all eligible Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and apply for VA health care beginning March 5. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on August 10, 2022, more than 500,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care.
“If you’re a Veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, we want you to come to us for the health care you deserve,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for Veterans – and once you’re in, you have access for life. So don’t wait, enroll starting March 5th.”
“Beginning March 5, we’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “With this expansion, VA can care for all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11. We can also care for Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more. We want to bring all of these Veterans to VA for the care they’ve earned and deserve.”
In addition to expanding access to VA care, this decision makes it quicker and easier for millions of Veterans to enroll. Many Veterans believe they must apply to receive VA disability compensation benefits to become eligible for VA health care, but this is not correct. With this expansion and other authorities, millions of eligible Veterans can enroll directly in VA care – without any need to first apply for VA benefits.
This expansion of care covers Vietnam Veterans, Gulf War Veterans, Iraq War Veterans, Afghanistan War Veterans, Veterans who deployed in support of contingency operations for the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Resolute Support Mission), and more.
This expansion also covers many Veterans who never deployed as a part of a conflict but were exposed to toxins or hazards while serving in the U.S. Specifically, under this expansion of care, any Veteran who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) — at home or abroad – is eligible for VA health care. VA has determined that Veterans who were exposed to one or more of the following hazards or conditions during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training participated in a TERA: air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust, particulates, oil well fires, sulfur fires);chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, contaminated water); occupational hazards (asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent resistant coating, firefighting foams); radiation (nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and detonation, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, X-rays, radiation from military occupational exposure); warfare agents (nerve agents, chemical and biological weapons); and more. VA will use all available information to determine if Veterans participated in a TERA, including military records and service connection.
VA is executing a nationwide campaign to ensure that as many Veterans as possible enroll. To date, VA’s PACT Act outreach campaign has included more than 2,500 events nationwide, $13 million in paid advertising, 88,000 earned media clips, more than 400 million emails and letters to Veterans, VA’s first-ever text messaging campaign, the creation of a one-stop-shop PACT Act website, and more. This is the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which has one goal in mind: ensure that all Veterans —and their survivors — get the health care and benefits they deserve under the PACT Act.
For more information, please contact our office at 831-647-7613 or www.mvao.org
April 21, 2023
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February 9, 2024
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October 1, 2023
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February 26, 2024
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Veteran Affairs
Foundation Leadership
The Board is comprised of persons who are either veterans themselves or a member of a veteran family. The Board share and provide their time, dedication, experience and talents without compensation. Please feel free to contact us if you have any interest in volunteering to support the Foundation’s endeavor.
James Bogan
Board President
Judge Jonathan Price
Board Vice President
Richard Garza
Treasurer
Marti Stanton
Board Secretary
Janet Parks
Rick De Arana
Bill Newman
William “Bill” Conners
Robert Lockwood
Dan Presser
Doug Kenyon
Sandra Lockwood
Candace Ingram
Executive Director
A Brief History
Fort Ord’s history began with a land purchase following the American entry into World War in 1917. Then it was known as Camp Ord, in honor of Union Army Maj. Gen. Edward Otho Cresap Ord. By 1940 Camp Ord grew to 2,000 acres and would come to house upwards of 50,000 troops, deploying 1.2 million soldiers. Camp Ord served the country for 80 years through World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the ongoing wars in the Middle East. until being decommissioned in 1992.
Upon Camp Ord’s closure, 178 acres were set aside to serve as a cemetery for veterans and their spouses. Federal and state funds were allocated for the construction, staffing, and operations of the cemetery. The Cemetery opened in October 2016 for the placement of cremains. The first inground, full casket took place in May 2021.
Cemetery Timeline
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Decommission and closure of the former Fort Ord was announced through the Base Realignment and Closure Act.
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A 178-acre property was set aside from the former Fort Ord property to create a final resting place for veterans and their spouses.
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Former Fort Ord was officially closed as a military base however a portion remains military housing and services.
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The Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery Foundation (CCVCF) was founded to raise funds for the establishment of the Veterans Cemetery.
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Californian legislation was approved that included an estimated $3.5 million maintenance and operations endowment to be funded prior to the new cemetery’s design and construction.
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A Citizens Advisory Council (later renamed Cemetery Advisory Committee) was formed under the auspices of the Monterey County Department of Military and Veteran Affairs to support and move the Cemetery project forward.
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Monterey County and the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) funded the creation of a master plan that outlined the design of the Cemetery.
Seaside’s City Council dedicated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their former Fort Ord land (“the endowment parcel”) to help fund the Cemetery.
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FORA, Monterey County, the City of Seaside, and the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation entered into a Memorandum of Understanding confirming their commitment to work together to create the Veterans Cemetery.
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The Cemetery site was cleared following the munition cleanup of the former Fort Ord property, securing federal funding and title transfer from FORA to CalVet.
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A new master plan was developed, reducing the size of the Veterans Cemetery from 178 acres to 78 acres.
$3.5 million in contributions were raised meeting the 10% “local matching funds” for the Federal VA Grant and the 30% State administration fees requirements, securing the build-out of the first 17-acre segment which allowed for the placement of cremated remains.
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The California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery opened on Tuesday, October 11, 2016.
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The Cemetery accepted its first in-ground burial on May 4, 2021.
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The Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation remains committed to raising funds for the expansion and enhancement of the full-service Veterans Cemetery.
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