Commentary The conversation among Orange County residents about where to place a cemetery for veterans has been a political football for nearly a decade. Utilizing the former El Toro Marine Base has been recommended for most of that time. But the logic of placing it there is based more on sentimentalism than fiscal reality. The…

The City of Irvine voted 4-1 to support building a state veterans cemetery at the Gypsum Canyon site in Anaheim instead of the El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, making it the final Orange County city to pass a resolution of support. The resolution was brought forward by Vice Mayor Tammy Kim and Councilman Mike…

IRVINE, Calif.—The Orange County Board of Supervisors (BOS) on July 27 approved a $20 million spending plan for a veteran’s cemetery in Anaheim Hills. The cemetery was initially planned to be based at a former Marine Corps. Air Station in Irvine, but when those plans fell through after years of political controversy, the site moved to…

The Orange County Board of Supervisors will consider allocating $20 million toward a veteran’s cemetery at Gypsum Canyon after city council in Anaheim, Calif., approved the location during a July 20 meeting. Council’s support for the site came less than a month after Irvine decided not to move forward with building a Veteran’s Memorial Park and…

ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif.—Officials and veterans gathered July 1 to celebrate the claiming of land for a controversial veteran cemetery in Anaheim Hills. “Today Anaheim is open to veterans,” said Anaheim Councilmember Trevor O’Neil. “I’m bringing a resolution to Anaheim city council later this month to support the veteran cemetery and commit the City of Anaheim [to a] proactive role…

City council in Irvine, Calif. took no action to construct a Veteran’s Memorial Park and Cemetery at the Orange County Great Park, following long debates paired with mixed opinions from the public. Council held a June 22 presentation about two potential Great Park sites for the cemetery. Both are on the El Toro Marine Base. The first site is called Amended and Restated Development Agreement (ARDA), and the other is a land parcel zoned for a golf…