The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs has announced its preferred site for its Tri-Cities State Veterans Cemetery: a 140-acre parcel in the Horn Rapids area of Richland, off Highway 240. 

The city of Richland offered the parcel for a no-cost transfer to WDVA for the cemetery in August 2025.  

Currently, Washington’s only state veterans cemetery is in Medical Lake, near Spokane.  

“This announcement is the culmination of the support received from the Tri-Cities veterans community,” said WDVA Director David Puente Jr. in a statement. “It is inspiring to see veterans coming together championing this project alongside their elected officials from all levels of government. I look forward to our work together as this dream becomes a reality.” 

In 2017, WDVA identified the Tri-Cities region as an area of need for a state veterans cemetery, and by 2024, the organization began identifying suitable land. In November 2025, WDVA began a pre-design study and evaluated two potential sites before deciding on the Richland site.  

Next in the process will be a community town hall, set for 2 p.m. March 25 at the Richland Readiness Center, 2655 First St., Richland.  

Throughout April, the predesign report will be finalized, then WDVA will work with Richland on the land transfer process and opportunities for federal funding. Once the land is owned by WDVA, the organization will apply for funding through the National Cemetery Administration to pay for 90% of the construction project.  

Go to: dva.wa.gov/tri-cities-cemetery.