Central Coast Veterans Cemetery supporters push forward.

When the first phase of the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery on the former Fort Ord opened Oct. 11 – after an effort that has gone on for more than 20 years, and which, at full build-out, envisions 12 phases on 78 acres – it was cause for celebration. U.S. Rep. Sam Farr spoke at the event and said in his speech, “You can get born here, you can get buried here. Cradle to grave, we have all the services.”

Well, not exactly: The first phase only included columbaria, for the interment of ashes. For those wanting a full-service cemetery that includes in-ground burials, it was too early to declare victory.

Before the October opening, behind the scenes, the distinction between in-ground burial versus interment became a point of conflict between two groups that are both trying to make the cemetery a reality: the state-run California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and the local nonprofit Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation.

“We’re not going to send money to go into some potentially black hole.”

This summer, a CalVet official – according to Candace Ingram, director of the foundation – lashed out in a meeting at the foundation for not helping with the final costs of Phase 1, like paying for finishing touches like benches and flagpoles.

Ingram took issue with that contention – the foundation had contributed $200,000 toward Phase 1 in 2013. She also asked exactly what the money would be spent on, as the bulk of the foundation’s funds are earmarked for its primary goal of a full-service cemetery with in-ground burials. That’s a specific requirement for $1.2 million currently being held for the foundation by the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

“We’ve been a thorn in a way of everybody in this process because we’ve asked accountability questions,” Ingram says. “We’re not going to send money up to the state to go into some potentially black hole.”

CalVet declined to answer questions in an interview, and instead emailed a prepared statement: “CalVet appreciates the tremendous support we received from the community in developing and opening the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery,” it reads.

With the recent implosion of Monterey Downs, a proposed development that would have helped fund the cemetery through the purchase of a 30-acre parcel in Seaside, the foundation is now redoubling efforts to raise funds, and they’re looking far and wide.

That means reaching out to national veterans groups like American Legion, and possibly taking out ads in veterans magazines. In the last few weeks, in preparation for the next push, the foundation has also given its website a makeover.

Ingram estimates the next construction phase – which will include in-ground burial – will cost roughly $3.5 million, an estimate that doesn’t include the cost of an environmental impact report.

Jimmy Panetta, who will replace Farr in Washington come January, was a foundation board member until stepping down a few weeks ago, and says he will carry on the fight to fund the cemetery. Collaboration, he says, will be key.

“It takes everybody to be involved,” he says. “This is a group effort.”