More than 130 veterans groups, which represent thousands of veterans from Orange County, have formed the Orange County Veterans Cemetery Coalition, sharing a common goal of getting a veterans cemetery built in Orange County.

The caveat to that goal, however, is that it will not be built in Irvine.

With the help of elected officials, specifically Third District Supervisor Don Wagner, momentum is quickly shifting away from the decade-long debates of building an Irvine-based veterans cemetery.

Now, the Veterans Cemetery Coalition, which is comprised of more than 130 veterans groups in Orange County, and Wagner, have shifted their sights to property in Anaheim Hills.

Following the buzz from the press conference at the Anaheim Hills site on Thursday, July 1, momentum is building.

For some veterans, the momentum is palpable.

Nick Berardino, a Vietnam War veteran, and president of the Veterans Alliance of Orange County (VALOR) said after years of stagnancy in Irvine, the current shift in momentum in favor of the Anaheim Hills site is a welcome jolt for local veteran groups.

“This thing is like a rocket going up,” Berardino said during an interview with Irvine Weekly, emphasizing the momentum behind the Anaheim Hills site is not imaginary.

“It’s a combination of things. It’s property that’s away from the urban environment that it hasn’t garnered opposition from residents,” Berardino said. “Veterans are fed-up, and they formed a coalition giving themselves voice for the first time in Orange County history – those two things have put this on the fast track.”

Berardino has spoken at length to Irvine Weekly regarding his support for a veterans cemetery project in Orange County, likening the years-long debate in Irvine to a political football game.

“Irvine kept pushing and pushing, and took it to the 20 yard line, fumbled — and the veterans picked up the ball, and ran it to the two yard line — that’s kind of how this happened,” he said.

Wagner, who represents portions of Irvine as Third District Supervisor, said he is in the process of trying to determine project logistics for the Anaheim Hills site, adding that the new site, commonly referred to as Gypsum Canyon, still needs to be designated by the state.

“We’re getting an analysis of the site, what’s going to be necessary to build it out, in terms of infrastructure, grading etc. We’re trying to come up with some reasonable cost estimates, and how to phase the development of the project,” Wagner explained in a phone call with Irvine Weekly on Wednesday, July 7.  “We’re hoping to find that the state will amend the Senator Umberg bill that is on the floor right now to designate our site — or designate Orange County so it doesn’t need to be specific.”

Wagner, who has been the most vocal member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors in moving this project out of Irvine and into Anaheim Hills, shared the newest renderings of the Gypsum Canyon veterans cemetery via Twitter, emphasizing that with the help of the Veterans Cemetery Coalition and the support from the Board of Supervisors renderings would soon become a reality.

“OC Veterans deserve a dignified final resting place. Thank you @Blackchamberoc & Bobby McDonald for creating a recap of last week’s press conference supporting the Anaheim Hills site. We continue the push to go from renderings to reality.”

On Monday, July 5, state Senator Tom Umberg, who introduced SB-43, sent a mass email to the Veterans Cemetery Coalition, announcing that he will pause SB-43 on the Senate floor.

The email, obtained by Irvine Weekly, indicates that Umberg will wait until January 2022 in order to give local groups and elected officials the time needed to pursue the Gypsum Canyon site further.

“Although the bill has not changed since it was presented in the Senate, I have decided to postpone the hearing on SB-43 until January 2022. By then the proponents of the cemetery at Gypsum Canyon will have an opportunity to demonstrate viability.”

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