State earmarks $250,000 for Orting veterans cemetery update

ORTING, Wash. (AP) — A veterans cemetery in Orting for soldiers who served in the Civil War and beyond can expect renovations after the state budget earmarked $250,000 for the property.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports that the money will go to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which manages the Washington Soldiers Home and the cemetery on its grounds.

Orting Rep. Graham Hunt wrote the budget provision. He also hosted two cleanup days at the cemetery in the past year and has launched an effort to raise $500,000 in private donations for Washington Soldiers Home.

Soldiers Home spokeswoman Heidi Audette says the money will go to cleaning graves, realigning headstones into rows, removing trees, replacing damaged headstones and repairing a sprinkler system.