S.F. vet is first laid to rest in new national cemetery

S.F. vet is first laid to rest in new national cemetery: "




Posted on Mon, Oct. 16, 2006


S.F. vet is first laid to rest in new national cemetery

By Dogen Hannah
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

DIXON - Land that once nurtured crops became hallowed ground this morning, as a Marine Corps sergeant who served in World War II was laid to rest in a new national cemetery.

With loved ones watching, the cremated remains of Alvin Hayman and those of his wife were placed in the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, fulfilling Hayman's wish and consecrating land that he once owned.

The Solano County cemetery is one of a dozen new national cemeteries Congress has authorized. About half of the 120 national cemeteries around the country are full, including the other two in the Bay Area.

Approximately 346,000 veterans live within about 75 miles of the 561-acre Sacramento Valley cemetery. Hayman, who served in occupied Japan and later in the Reserves, was the first of eight veterans to be buried today, the cemetery's opening day.

The native San Franciscan died in July 2004 a few days after he sold his land to the VA. His family kept his cremated remains at home, so that they could honor his wish to be placed in the new cemetery when it opened.

They granted that wish this morning, after"