The IVC is located 10 miles west of Des Moines, just off of Interstate 80 at Exit 113 (Van Meter). It is managed by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs
The Iowa Veterans Cemetery (IVC) is the first federally funded construction of a state-owned and operated veterans cemetery in the State of Iowa. The cemetery serves the veteran population throughout the state and around the country, as there is no state residency requirement to be interred in the cemetery. Ultimately, it will provide sufficient burial space for up to 80,000 burials. Eligibility considerations are outlined in the link Eligibility for Burial at our website.
A groundbreaking ceremony on Veterans Day in 2006 initiated the project. Construction began in late July of the following year, with the dedication occurring on July 3, 2008. At the time of the dedication, over 1,000 veterans and eligible dependents had already been determined eligible. The first of 76 scheduled interments began on July 7th.
Find out more about the history of this project and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs State Cemetery Grants Program at https://va.iowa.gov/vetcemetery/index.html. Many are surprised to learn that IVC traces its roots and heritage to Gettysburg. We invite you to learn more about the project by scanning through a gallery of photographs beginning with site selection and testing through groundbreaking, construction, and dedication from the link Construction History.
Our mission at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, is to provide compassionate and dignified services and burials to our veterans and our families.
"Gates are open sunrise to sunset. The Office Hours are Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm."
