Indy Standard

The House Ways and Means Committee has approved legislation authored by State Representative Martin Carbaugh, a Republican from Fort Wayne. The bill aims to assist the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum in Fort Wayne with the construction of a columbarium to honor deceased Hoosier veterans.

The board of the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum intends to install an aboveground structure designed for storing cremation urns and personal mementos. This columbarium was donated to the organization. However, they encountered financial difficulties upon learning that state regulations required a $100,000 deposit into a cemetery perpetual fund for maintenance purposes.

House Bill 1585, introduced by Carbaugh, seeks to exempt this veteran-focused nonprofit from the initial deposit requirement, allowing them to proceed with their plans. "Hoosier families deserve the peace of mind that their loved ones' final resting place will be maintained with respect and care," said Carbaugh. "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."

According to Carbaugh, funds generated from niche sales in the columbarium will be placed into a trust fund dedicated to maintaining both the structure and its surrounding property. The donated columbarium consists of three pieces with 157 niches available exclusively for veterans.

The site spans 40 acres and includes memorials, monuments, and a museum commemorating service members from past conflicts involving the United States. The museum itself covers 6,000 square feet and houses over 2,000 artifacts dating back to the American Revolution. Recent additions include a Korean War Memorial featuring statues of soldiers on patrol and an 80% replica of Washington D.C.'s Vietnam Memorial Wall.

Carbaugh noted that these collections attract visitors nationwide who come to honor fallen heroes. House Bill 1585 now advances to the full House for further consideration.

For more information about this legislation or other inquiries related to it, visit iga.in.gov.