STATEHOUSE (Jan. 31, 2025) – The House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation authored by State Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne) paving the way for Fort Wayne's Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum to build a columbarium to honor fallen Hoosier veterans.
The VNMSM's board wants to install a columbarium, an aboveground structure designed to store many cremation urns and personal mementos in individual niches, that was gifted to the organization. Board members contacted Carbaugh after the nonprofit hit a financial drawback when they discovered the state required the group to deposit $100,000 into a cemetery perpetual fund to ensure remains are protected and maintained.
Carbaugh said House Bill 1585 would exempt the Fort Wayne veteran-focused nonprofit from paying the up-front deposit fee in order to proceed with the columbarium.
"Hoosier families deserve the peace of mind that their loved ones' final resting place will be maintained with respect and care," Carbaugh said. "This bill removes a burdensome fee that could prevent this donated project from proceeding while also ensuring that the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum honors our local fallen veterans."
Carbaugh 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.
The 40-acre site is home to memorials, monuments and a museum, and serves as a place of remembrance for service members from past war conflicts. The VNMSM's 6,000 square-foot museum houses more than 2,000 artifacts from all American wars involving the United States beginning with the American Revolution. Recent projects on the grounds include a 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 of the original Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. Carbaugh said the various collections on the grounds draw visitors from all over the country to recognize and remember fallen heroes.
House Bill 1585 now goes to the full House for 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.
