Veterans Cemetery Memorial Building in Igo closed for over a year

SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — A memorial building at the veterans' cemetery in Igo sits empty and unused, as it has for over a year, to the frustration of the retired state senator who led its construction more than a decade ago.

The building on the cemetery grounds was dedicated in 2011 and has served families of deceased military members for over 10 years, offering air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. But that all changed about a year and a half ago, when Retired State Senator Maurice Johannessen said the State Fire Marshal closed it, and tore into it, saying, "there was not sufficient water pressure in the fire suppression system."

"You cannot have a good military service in 112 degrees, or raining or snowing, whatever!" Johannessen told Mangas.

The defiant former secretary of the state department of veterans affairs says this was built with all private money and support, including his own $300,000. But, he's being held up as an example by the state for taking private initiative.

"I've been told that the facilities like this will never be built again. And that that's why they were angry because I had this built here. And, to me, this is an honor to our veterans. And, that's close, close to my heart, as a veteran, myself," Johannessen said. "We are not doing to tear this down, we're not going to it. They may try, but they're not going to do it."

The department of veterans affairs, Cal Vet, sent KRCR the following statement:

"The Memorial Building at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery has been closed since April 2022 to undergo renovations to increase its water and fire suppression capabilities. The building is currently closed to the public for services. while we'd hoped to complete the project last fall, there have been delays due to supply chain challenges and winter weather. The project continues to make progress and we look forward to reopening the building. At this time, we don't have a reopening date, but will let everyone know when we do."

They also said, while the memorial building is closed, the committal shelter is still available—it has a roof and is open on three sides.

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