We the People: Veterans maintain sacred grounds at Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Nearly 5,000 veterans have been laid to rest at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery since it opened in 2013.

The cemetery sits on State Highway 225 in Spanish Fort, where veteran employees work to maintain the sacred grounds where their fellow service members are buried.

Kathy Miller was present when the cemetery opened, helping lay to rest the first veterans. After retiring from 22 years with the Air Force, Miller worked her way up from groundskeeper to assistant director.

“The first one we buried was Mr. Carpenter, but Ronnie Burrell — I set his headstone. The very first headstone that I had ever set,” Miller said.

Personal mission drives cemetery staff

For Miller, the job is personal and allows her to continue serving her veteran community.

“You have to have a heart of compassion and a lot of caring to know that some of these men and women — we served with — I served with,” Miller said. “And there’s no greater honor than to be the last person that lays them to rest.”

More than 4,800 veterans have been interred at the cemetery.

Among the four groundskeepers is veteran Brad Gravat, who has worked there for a year and a half. From mowing to edging, he maintains the eight acres of cemetery grounds.

“I got to fly and basically see the whole world in a helicopter,” Gravat said of his military service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

For Gravat, the work provides respect and dignity to those who have served.

“It’s wonderful — I enjoy it. I get to do the outside work all day, which I enjoy. And helping the families that need help finding a grave,” Gravat said.

The staff witnesses 21 gun salutes on an almost daily basis.

“It’s with great honor that we get to see the military branches with their 21 gun salute out here, firing almost on a daily basis,” Gravat said.

Miller encourages young people to consider military service.

“If there’s anyone that is not sure of what career path they want to take. You’ve got a lot of high school kids that are graduating and are not really sure of what they want to do — serve your country — there’s no greater country in the world,” Miller said.