ROMA – A special cemetery in Starr County was unveiled, and it’s a place where those who served the U.S. can be laid to rest at no cost.

The overall purpose was to establish a county cemetery on 29-and-a-half acres donated by the Chevron Oil Company, but there would be one section specifically dedicated to county veterans.

“For all the services that you have given to our country, certainly to our state and our community,” Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said.

It’s the official dedication of the Starr County’s Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Roma.

Years ago, former Pct. 2 County Commissioner Roy Pena, who died in June of this year, worked to have the land donated.

“And I said, ‘Certainly compadre.’ You know, but it’s hard to get anyone to give you anything,” Vera said.

“Everything started off with him wanting to have some of his friends honored,” Pct. 2 County Commissioner Raul ‘Roy’ Pena III said. “Laid to rest at a veteran’s cemetery here in Starr County.”

Pena is the son of the former commissioner and was appointed to finish out his father’s term on the commissioner’s court.

Starr County veterans and their spouses will be buried at the cemetery for no cost.

“We’re proud for this. For this accomplishment. The commissioner had a dream for everybody,” veteran Jose Saenz said.

There is also an empty Prisoner of War-Missing in Action table honoring Private First Class Joel Corona.

“And so that makes me very proud of the city here and the cemetery here. And we’re honoring my twin brother over here, Joel Corona,” Saul Corona said.

“I’m really proud of this county. I hope it’s a trend and the other counties around the area follow suit,” Lupita Perez with the VFW National Legislative Committee said.

“This is historical. I don’t know of very many county cemeteries that dedicate an area for our veterans, which I think is greatly deserved,” Vera said.

The cemetery is something very special to the people of Starr County.