SPRINGVALE — The lone bugler sounded “Taps,” and the retort of a 21-gun salute pierced the air in the most peaceful of places.

And with that, the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery was dedicated.

Veterans and their families from around the corner and from across the county and neighboring New Hampshire, about 400 in all, gathered Tuesday to mark the first phase of completion for what will, for many of them, be their chosen resting place.

For those gathered to mark the day, listening to well wishes from an array of dignitaries, the spot off Stanley Road could not have been better chosen.

“This is so beautiful,” said Jackie Morin, whose husband, Stephen D. Morin, served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He died one and a half years ago, and his ashes will be interred in the cemetery come spring.

“My husband wanted to be in a veteran’s cemetery. This is a dream come true for all veterans,” she said.

The dream come true was more than a decade in the making. Today, however, the first phase of the cemetery that will eventually be built to accommodate the remains of 20,000 veterans stands at the ready. Burials are to begin in September.

“I think the Lord has greatly blessed this place. I get a really peaceful feeling here,” said Grace Lehoux, who attended the dedication ceremonies with her husband, Lee Lehoux, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

The first veteran to be buried at the cemetery will be the late Roger Landry, a U.S. Air Force master sergeant, former Maine legislator and stalwart supporter of veterans issues and the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery. Landry died in 2007 after the cancer he battled for about a decade re-occurred.

The cemetery quest began with a call for a donation of land from the state Bureau of Veterans Affairs. Riverside Cemetery offered up 58 acres and contacted Marie Clancy, a longtime veterans affairs advocate who became a steadfast supporter of the project.

The owners of Riverside Cemetery, said Raymond Parent, chairman of the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Association, made the project possible. Then the town stepped in and offered another 30 acres.

“This is moving. This is all of us working together to make it right,” said Frank Salvas of the U.S. Veterans Administration of the effort of federal, state and local officials to bring the dream of a southern Maine cemetery to fruition.

The cemetery will serve veterans in York and Cumberland counties and neighboring counties in New Hampshire.

Louis Adabahr of Rochester, N.H., a former commander of the American Legion there and now involved with the AMVETS, attended the ceremony.

“People can come here and pay tribute to their loved ones and won’t have to drive (so many) miles,” he said.

The sole New Hampshire veterans cemetery is in Boscowen. And for southern Maine veterans, the closest cemetery before now has been in Augusta, more than 100 miles away.

At a reception following the ceremony, Albert “Tarz” Bertrand, 93, a U.S. Marine veteran of World War II who fought in several corners of the world including Saipan and the Marshall Islands, pronounced the cemetery “beautiful,” and said he intends it to be his final resting place.

Retired Marine Phil Cabana, who lives nearby, and John Flagler have similar intentions, they said.

At the ceremonies, Maine Bureau of Veterans Affairs Director Peter Ogden addressed veterans of each war and said the cemetery is an important step in meeting the goal of service to veterans.

“To World War II veterans in the audience, thank you for your service. To Korean War veterans we have not forgotten you. To Vietnam veterans, welcome home. To the youngest and next greatest generation, thank you,” he said.

Keynote speaker Retired Vice Admiral George W. Emery, a Sanford native and former commander of the Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet, called the cemetery a worthy memorial to the sacrifices made by veterans.

“Thank you for providing such a beautiful and serene final place of rest,” he said to those who helped make the cemetery possible. And then he joshed with those who had gathered, saying veterans who choose burial here “can join together for foxhole stories ”¦ for all eternity.”

Clancy, recovering from an illness, sat in the front row.

“It’s coming along,” she said of the progress made, while looking ahead to when more of the cemetery will be completed.

Honor guards posted the colors. Bagpipers intoned a service medley and “Amazing Grace.”

Maine Army National Guard Chaplain Valmore Vigue and Rev. Charles Webber of St. Therese of Liseux Parish blessed the grounds.

“Grant all who lie here eternal rest, and those who mourn here strength and consolation,” Webber concluded.

— While the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery will soon be conducting burials, the work of the local committee ”“ called the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Association ”“ will continue and part of their responsibility is beautification, including placement of military emblems, according to Association Chairman Raymond Parent. A drive is ongoing to raise funds to place military emblems on the fence that marks the entrance to the cemetery. Parent said donations will be accepted by Paula Simpson, treasurer of the association, at 919 Main St. in Sanford. Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.