RNCIC - Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corp.

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Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corp.
P.O. Box 4221, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702

The Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation (RNCIC) was organized in 1984 to aid in the expansion and improvement of the Fayetteville National Cemetery. It is a legally constituted, not-for-profit corporation whose officers and directors are made up of veterans and non-veterans who work without compensation. Membership in the RNCIC is open to all interested parties.
RNCIC's Mission
The mission of the RNCIC is to secure land adjacent to the Fayetteville National Cemetery to insure the cemetery can continue to receive veterans for burial. Veterans living in Northwest Arkansas, as well as many veterans living outside our region, have planned their final resting place here. This desire stems from having been born and raised in Northwest Arkansas, having close family ties here, or having made their homes in the area following their service.
RNCIC's Goal
We members of the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation believe we must renew our efforts to further the acquisition of land adjacent to the Fayetteville National Cemetery and we continue improvements there. Without past donations for the purchase of land, the cemetery would be closed today. 18 pieces of land have been purchased by the RNCIC since 1984. There are still 16 pieces adjacent to the cemetery that are suitable for expansion. We now have an opportunity to purchase additional land. The owners of several tracts on Government Avenue are ready to sell. Our goal to purchase all property along Government Avenue to the railroad tracks and all property along Hill Street will cost approximately $1,300,000. And now the adjacent stockyard property is for sale.
The History
The Fayetteville National Cemetery opened in 1867. On July 17, 1862, Congress enacted legislation that authorized President Abraham Lincoln to purchase "cemetery grounds" to be used as national cemeteries "for soldiers who shall have died in the service of the country." Fourteen cemeteries were established that first year, including one in the sleepy Maryland town of Sharpsburg where 4,476 Union soldiers were laid to rest after the one day of terrible slaughter that was the Battle of Antietam. (By way of comparison, approximately 3,000 Americans, British and Canadians died on June 6, 1944, in the invasion of Normandy).
Since September 1, 1973, responsibility for the national cemetery rests with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, there are 136 national cemeteries in all. The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its National Cemetery Administration, administers 120 of them. Two national Cemeteries, Arlington and Soldiers Home, are still administered by the Army. Fourteen national cemeteries are maintained by the Department of the Interior.
More than 2.5 million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict -from the Revolutionary War to the Gulf War - are honored by burial in VA's national cemeteries. More than 14,200 acres of land from Hawaii to Maine, and from Alaska to Puerto Rico are devoted to the memorialization of those who served this nation. More than 300 recipients of the Medal of Honor are buried in VA's national cemeteries.
Many of the facilities have been closed, having reached full capacity, and additional ones are open only for cremation urn placements. Expansion to any existing cemetery can only be done by adding adjacent usable land. Any acquisition must be donated to the neighboring National Cemetery with an unencumbered title and the land cleared of all utilities, pipes, sewers, etc. At the current rate of burials, Fayetteville National Cemetery will reach capacity in 2023.
We Need Your Support
Many people have given generously in the past and are being asked to contribute again. Your giving will be deeply appreciated and donations are tax deductible under current law. RNCIC tax identification will be furnished upon request. Find out more about us from news articles in the Northwest Arkansas Times linked below. Print out the contribution form and mail it with your donation to:
Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corp.
P.O. Box 4221
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702.

Monthly business meetings are at 10:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month at the American Legion Post No. 27, 1195 S.Curtis Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
If your club, business or organization wishes to have a speaker to tell our story, please contact us.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Roger McClain, President 479-306-6459
Ron Butler, Vice President 479-750-2598
Peggy McClain, Secretary
Harold Crivello, Treasurer

LINKS:
Fayetteville National Cemetery
Interments in the Cemetery
VA Burial & Benefits
VA Homepage
Veteran's Records
Fayetteville map
Cemetery map
2005 aerial photo of cemetery

(Many thanks to our contributors
for their support!)
NEWS:
February 21, 2004 news article
about the RNCIC
November 14, 2004 news article
RNCIC VP Milo Cumpston's story
March 20, 2005 news article
about the RNCIC
April 16, 2005 news article
$45,000 needed badly for lot
May 23, 2005 news article
about Cemetery Director Dan Cassidy
Letter to the editor
in the Apr 2, 2006 Morning News
Scroll halfway down
Article in the White River Valley News
published Jul 27, 2006
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article
in the March 5, 2007 edition
Excellent news article
in the May 29, 2007 Northwest Arkansas Times
Another May 29, 2007 news article
It mentions RNCIC VP Milo Cumpston and our efforts to save the National Cemetery
USA Today article about us
from the May 30, 2007 edition
Article in the July 31, 2007 Northwest Arkansas Times
features a pic of RNCIC VP Milo Cumpston and info on funds raised
October 25, 2007 Northwest Arkansas Times article
about RNCIC donating land to the National Cemetery
A replica webpage of the same article
with photo of VP Milo Cumpston and others
Northwest Arkansas Times article of April 17, 2008
Lorna Starrett forgives loan to RNCIC
Northwest Arkansas Times article of May 25, 2008
Great article about RNCIC VP Milo Cumpston
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article of October 3, 2008
RNCIC donates land to National Cemetery
Morning News article of October 3, 2008
RNCIC donates land to National Cemetery
Northwest Arkansas Times article of October 3, 2008
RNCIC donates land to National Cemetery
Northwest Arkansas Times obituary of October 4, 2008
Longtime RNCIC treasurer Don Tuller passes away
February 1, 2009 article in the Morning News
RNCIC receives $5,000 grant
April 10, 2009 article in the Northwest Arkansas Times
VP Milo Cumpston passes away