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Improvements will include landscaping and hardscaping to make the cemetery more aesthetically appealing.  (Photo courtesy of Cape May County)

Cape May County’s Gerald Thornton Veterans Cemetery will begin the first phase of a highly anticipated beautification project to enhance the grounds and create a more tranquil and dignified resting place for veterans and their spouses.

On March 7 at 11 a.m., the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners will hold a groundbreaking for entranceway improvements. Phase one will encompass a series of landscaping improvements and will also include hardscape features such as new pathways, walkways and seating areas to enhance accessibility and improve navigation to all sections of the cemetery.

“We are very excited about phase one of this beautification project and we are meeting internally to discuss further improvements for phase two. It is something the board members and I all support, and we are anxious to see this mission accomplished in honor of our fallen comrades,” County Commissioner Bob Barr said in a news release.

The Cape May County Veterans Cemetery was created in 1980 and is operated by the Board of Commissioners, “who are committed to honoring our veterans and providing a dignified final resting place,” according to the release.

The public is invited to join county officials March 7 in celebrating this significant step toward creating a more beautiful and meaningful space for hometown heroes.

The Veterans Cemetery is located at 127 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House.

“We honor our veterans every day and are proud to show our commitment in honoring our veterans by providing a dignified final resting place for those who served our county and country,” Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio said.

Weather permitting, the project is anticipated to be mostly finished in advance of the county’s annual Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery on Monday, May 27.