The Iowa Veterans Cemetery (IVC) is the first federally funded construction of a state-owned and operated veterans cemetery in the State of Iowa. The cemetery serves the veteran population throughout the state and around the country, as there is no state residency requirement to be interred in the cemetery. Ultimately, it will provide sufficient burial space for up to 80,000 burials. A groundbreaking ceremony on Veterans Day in 2006 initiated the project. Construction began in late July of the following year, with the dedication occurring on July 3, 2008. At the time of the dedication, over 1,000 veterans and eligible dependents had already been determined eligible. The first of 76 scheduled interments began on July 7th.