By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – St. Louis will be the new location for the Department of Veterans Affairs' first Training Center for National Cemetery Staff.
The new center will be the first formal training program for the employees who manage and operate its cemeteries.
The center will open during a formal ceremony next week. It will expand its classes to train foremen, equipment operators, groundskeepers, cemetery representatives and other employees.
Cemetery employees used to rely on informal on-the-job training.
St. Louis was selected because of its location near Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where the trainees can receive practical experience.
The VA operates 120 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico.