Orange County, California - Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, (D - Orange County) issued the following statement in response to the Irvine City Councilâs vote on Tuesday, September 26, to transfer all 125 acres of the land, along with the deed, to the California Department of Veterans Affairs. The Irvine City Council voted; with veteran groups, local leaders, concerned citizens, and Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva speaking in support during public comment.
"A real champion of this project is with us, and has been since day one,â said Irvine Mayor Don Wagner of Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva.
âThe cemetery is moving forward, and I will work with the city to ensure promises are kept. We started down this road together in 2014. This land transfer is an important step to get the project moving forward,â said Quirk-Silva. âThe finalization of the land transfer will allow the state to analyze the site, put together an environmental report, and apply for a $10 million federal grant by June.â
âVeterans have served for all of us, and charged bravely into battle without delay, so let us proceed to honor them, and without delay. We have a vision, and if everything goes smoothly, cemetery construction could start as early as October 2018,â said Quirk-Silva. âWe will gather there to remember those who served, those who fought, those still missing, and those who gave their measure of devotion for our country.â
The new cemetery is expected to relieve a shortage in military gravesites in Southern California. The national cemetery in Los Angeles is at capacity and the one in Riverside requires a lengthy wait.