Orange County Supervisor for the Third District, Don Wagner, held a press conference to announce the selection of a 280-acre site at Gypsum Canyon for the establishment of a Veterans cemetery, with several civic leaders and Veterans in attendance, 2021. (Photo: U.S. Navy Chief Mass Communication Specialist Elisandro T. Diaz)
A legal dispute has surfaced over the planned Veterans cemetery at Anaheim Hills’ Gypsum Canyon, with a group seeking to block the project by filing a lawsuit against the city of Anaheim.
According to a report by Stars and Stripes, the lawsuit, filed on August 21, claims that the city did not explore alternative locations for the cemetery and failed to comply with state environmental regulations during the approval process. The plaintiffs, led by Irvine resident Harvey Liss, who heads the group Build the Great Park Veterans Cemetery, argue that Irvine would be a more appropriate location for the Veterans cemetery. Liss hopes the lawsuit will delay or halt the Gypsum Canyon development, providing time to revive efforts for a Veterans cemetery in Irvine, where previous attempts had stalled.
In response, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken issued a strong statement defending the city’s decision to locate the cemetery in Anaheim. She stated that the project enjoys widespread support from police, firefighters, Veterans, and Orange County residents. Aitken argued that delaying the project would deny Veterans the dignified final resting place they deserve, stating that a Veterans cemetery in Anaheim aligns with the city’s values and the values of the nation. She stressed that further delays are unacceptable.
The approved plan for the cemetery involves dividing a 283-acre plot in Anaheim Hills into two cemeteries: one for the general public and another specifically for Veterans. Efforts to establish a Veterans cemetery in Irvine had previously been abandoned due to a lack of consensus on a suitable site, prompting advocates to focus on Anaheim.
Nick Berardino, a Marine Corps Veteran and president of the Veterans Alliance of Orange County, dismissed the lawsuit as politically motivated and expressed confidence that it would not hinder or delay the construction of the cemetery. Berardino noted the importance of the project, stating that Orange County is the largest county in California without a dedicated Veterans cemetery.
Financially, the Gypsum Canyon project has secured $50 million of the estimated $126 million needed for the first phase of construction. Additional cost savings are anticipated due to shared development expenses between the two cemeteries. In an effort to secure further funding, CalVet has submitted a federal grant application.
The need for the public cemetery is urgent, as Orange County is running low on casket burial plots. The public cemetery, set to be the first new cemetery in the county since the El Toro Memorial Park opened in 1896, could be operational as early as 2027. However, no timeline has been established for the opening of the Veterans cemetery.
Tim Deutsch, General Manager of the Orange County Cemetery District and a defendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment, stating that the agency is still reviewing the legal action.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.