STATEHOUSE (Jan. 26, 2024) – State Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne) authored legislation to support Fort Wayne's Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum's efforts to offer a new burial option to veterans.
The VNMSM is a 40-acre site featuring memorials, monuments and a museum, and serves as a place of remembrance for service members from past war conflicts. Looking to expand their memorial tributes, the shrine and museum's board wants to install a columbarium, an aboveground structure designed to store many cremation urns and personal mementos in individual niches. According to the board, a columbarium was gifted to the nonprofit, but their efforts hit an unexpected financial roadblock. Carbaugh said that's because state law required them to deposit $100,000 into a cemetery perpetual fund, which ensures remains will be protected and maintained.
"The Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum is a hidden gem in House District 81 and now they're looking to provide an eternal resting place for veterans among their fellow servicemen and women," Carbaugh said. "When board members reached out for help, I knew we had to find a reasonable solution. That's why I authored legislation to allow them to move forward on this meaningful addition while also making sure dedicated funds are set aside for future maintenance."
Carbaugh said House Bill 1370 is narrowly tailored to exempt the Fort Wayne nonprofit from paying the state fee. He said the shrine and museum will place funds from columbarium niche sales into a trust fund designed to perpetually maintain and care for the structure and property. The donated columbarium is a three-piece structure that has 157 niches that would be sold to veterans only.
Board members Walter "Bud" Mendenhall and Eric Johnson testified in support of Carbaugh's legislation. Johnson, a Vietnam veteran, said during his testimony, "Veterans gave a lot for their country. And the ones that didn't make it home, I always say, 'some gave all, all gave some.'"
"The addition of the columbarium will be a place of remembrance and an emotional experience that will provide closure for many," Carbaugh said. "I'm committed to getting this bill over the finish line, so that the shrine and museum can move forward."
The VNMSM's 6,000-square-foot museum houses over 2,000 artifacts from all American wars involving the United States beginning with the American Revolution. Recent projects on the grounds include the Korean War Memorial, that honors all Korean veterans and features 7-foot-tall statues of 12 men on patrol. Visitors can also check out a Vietnam Memorial Wall, which is an 80% replica to the original Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. The various collections on the grounds draw visitors from all over the country to recognize and remember fallen heroes.
House Bill 1370 passed unanimously out of House Ways and Means Committee and will now go to the full House for further consideration. For more information, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne) represents House District 81,
which includes a portion of Allen County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION: State Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne) (center) joins Fort Wayne's Veteran's National Memorial Shrine and Museum's board members Eric Johnson (right) and Walter "Bud" Mendenhall (left) Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Carbaugh authored legislation to support the shrine and museum's efforts to honor Hoosier veterans by installing a columbarium, which is a structure used to store and display cremation urns.
