STATEHOUSE (Feb. 1, 2024) – The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously advanced State Rep. Martin Carbaugh's (R-Fort Wayne) bill clearing the way for Fort Wayne's Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum's to install a columbarium to honor fallen veterans.
Looking to expand their memorial tributes, 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 Walter "Bud" Mendenhall and Eric Johnson contacted Carbaugh after the nonprofit hit a financial snag when they discovered the state required the group to deposit $100,000 into a cemetery perpetual fund, which ensures remains will be protected and maintained.
"When Eric, Bud and the board first approached me, I knew we could work together to find a legislative fix that allows them to move forward while ensuring the columbarium would be maintained well into the future," Carbaugh said. "I'm excited that this bill received overwhelming support in the House and I'm hopeful it will maintain its momentum in the Senate. It's really an honor to help the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum. The memorial tributes are a place for the Fort Wayne community to go, reflect and pay respects to those who selflessly served our country so that no veteran will be forgotten."
Carbaugh said House Bill 1370 is tailored to exempt the Fort Wayne veteran focused 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.
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 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 will now go to the Indiana Senate 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.
