Texas veterans now have more time to visit the graves of their fallen comrades — and state officials are framing it as long overdue.
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) and the Veterans Land Board (VLB), led by Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., have announced extended visiting hours at all four Texas State Veterans Cemeteries (TSVC) — a change that takes effect April 1, 2026. From April through September, the cemeteries will remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. During the cooler months — October through March — hours will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s a modest but meaningful shift for families who’ve long had to time their visits around a tighter clock.
A Quiet Change With Real Weight
For anyone who’s ever driven an hour to reach a veterans cemetery only to find the gates closed, this matters. The four TSVCs serve as the final resting places for thousands of Texans who wore the uniform, and the ability to visit — especially after a long workday — isn’t a luxury. It’s a matter of dignity.
The Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, located at 7457 West Lake Road in Abilene, is one of the four sites now operating under the updated schedule. The cemetery, reachable at 325-673-4446, has drawn praise from visitors for its careful upkeep and the visible presence of tributes from organizations like AmVets and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). One visitor noted that “the cemetery was well maintained, and recent blocks from various affiliates such as AmVets, DAV, brought tribute to men and women who served.” A walk of remembrance winds through the grounds, ending at a display of the flags of each branch of the Armed Forces. Vehicles are allowed on the grounds, which is no small thing for older or mobility-limited visitors.
How Does Texas Stack Up?
Still, the new hours aren’t without context — or competition. The federally operated Houston National Cemetery, run by the VA National Cemetery Administration, is already open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. — a full hour earlier in the morning and an hour later at night than even the extended TSVC summer hours. That’s not a knock on the state’s effort, but it does illustrate the gap that still exists between federal and state-managed facilities when it comes to accessibility.
That said, the GLO’s announcement reflects a broader push under Buckingham’s leadership to modernize how Texas serves its veteran population. The VLB oversees not just cemeteries but also land loans, home loans, and housing programs for veterans — and the cemetery expansion fits into a pattern of incremental but concrete improvements the agency has been rolling out.
Planning a Visit or a Service
Families looking to attend committal services at any VA national cemetery or grant-funded state cemetery can search the Daily Burial Schedule maintained by the VA National Cemetery Administration. Scheduling is handled through a dedicated line — 800-535-1117 — and the system is updated regularly to help families coordinate attendance at services. It’s a resource that doesn’t get nearly enough attention, frankly, given how many families rely on it during some of the hardest days of their lives.
The full details of the extended TSVC hours, including information on all four cemetery locations, have been released by the GLO. Specific details for the Abilene location are also available here through the GLO’s veterans portal.
In the end, extending cemetery hours by a few hours might not sound like headline news. But for a Gold Star family driving in from a small town after work, or a veteran making peace with a friend’s grave before sundown — those extra hours aren’t administrative. They’re everything.
