Our Chattanooga National Cemetery is one of the finest, most scenic and most historic national cemeteries anywhere in the world. It was established in November of 1863, after the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge in the War Between the States.

It surrounds a notable knob between the sites of those historic battles, and is passed every day by many thousands of citizens who honor the veterans from many of our nation's wars. But with veterans becoming older and fewer, the Chattanooga National Cemetery is filling up. Specific plans need to be made now for expansion.

Rep. Zach Wamp commendably has been working for several years toward having our federal government acquire some adjacent little-used acreage to expand the bounds of the cemetery. And now there is consideration of providing crypts and a niche columbarium that could accommodate multiple final resting places for veterans.

With Americans engaged in conflicts in far-flung places in the world, the need to provide additional honored final resting places for our servicemen and women is increasing.

We appreciate Rep. Wamp's continuing efforts and encourage local officials and others throughout Tennessee to seek expansion of the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

There are five national cemeteries in Tennessee, but those in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis are closed. Only the Chattanooga National Cemetery and the Mountain Home National Cemetery at the Tri-cities area in East Tennessee remain open for additional burials.

So now is the time to give expansion of our fine Chattanooga National Cemetery high priority.