Augusta Honors Veterans With Parade, Cemetery Groundbreaking
Augusta VA Medical Center's Veterans Day parade marched through downtown, and a state veterans cemetery groundbreaking is set for Friday.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Military Jobs
The Augusta VA Medical Center held a Veterans Day parade through downtown Augusta that featured marching, music and a prayer for veterans. A groundbreaking ceremony for a state veterans cemetery in Augusta is scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. behind Gracewood Hospital.
Why it matters
The cemetery fills a need Augusta District 5 Commissioner Don Clark described as much-needed, giving veterans in the Augusta area a place of burial closer to home. The project was built on the work of many people, according to the extraction's account of the effort.
Charles Abbitt's grandfather served 29 years total between the Army and the Air Force, a figure cited in the context of Abbitt's own decision to serve. The state veterans cemetery's construction timeline and capacity were not provided in the source.
The players
Augusta VA Medical Center
The Augusta VA Medical Center is a Veterans Affairs facility that organized the Veterans Day parade through downtown Augusta.
Don Clark
Don Clark is an Augusta District 5 commissioner and a veteran who said the state veterans cemetery fills a much-needed gap.
Charles Abbitt
Charles Abbitt is a Navy veteran who served during Desert Storm and works as a Columbia County Sheriff's deputy.
The details
Veterans marched and heard music during the parade through downtown Augusta, which closed the day with a prayer for those who served. Navy veteran Charles Abbitt, who served during Desert Storm and now works as a Columbia County Sheriff's deputy at the county jail, said his desire to serve was inspired by his grandfather.
Timeline
Veterans Day parade through downtown Augusta: November 11, 2026.
Veterans cemetery groundbreaking ceremony behind Gracewood Hospital: Friday, November 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
Roadmap
The Augusta groundbreaking extends the state-run veterans cemetery model into the Augusta area, following the same pattern of veterans burial sites that expand access closer to where veterans live. It places local burial capacity alongside the VA Medical Center's existing role in serving the region's veterans.
Augusta-area veterans and their families will have a future state cemetery option close to home once construction is complete. The groundbreaking on Friday marks the first visible step toward that local burial access.
The takeaway
Local veterans and their families should watch for updates on the Augusta state cemetery's construction schedule following Friday's groundbreaking. Those looking to connect with veterans' services can start with the Augusta VA Medical Center.
What happens next
The state veterans cemetery groundbreaking ceremony behind Gracewood Hospital is scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
Further reading
For more on the military and veterans workforce, see Military Jobs in Augusta.
