The Georgia Power Foundation recently donated $20,000 to the new Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Vinson Highway in Milledgeville. The cemetery provides Georgia veterans and their spouses with burial plots free of charge in honor of the veterans` service to the country.

Phase One of the cemetery will cover 25 acres and provide 1,000 double and 100 single burial plots and vaults. The cost to build Phase One is $5.6 million, which was appropriated by the Georgia State Legislature. There are 142 total acres in the project, which will be developed in additional phases as needed.

The $20,000 donation was presented to Georgia State Representative Kenneth Birdsong, Georgia Veterans Administration Deputy Commissioner Max Cotter and Rick Roby of Veterans Services. Rep. Birdsong was instrumental in bringing the cemetery to Milledgeville.

"Georgia Power is honored to be a part of such a special endeavor to honor those who have served our country to protect our freedom and the values we hold so dear," said Jo Wilbanks, manager of Georgia Power`s Central Region.