A ceremony marked Memorial Day at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo.
U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus was among the leaders at the event Monday morning in Shelby County.
The Republican congressman worked for years to obtain funding for the cemetery, which was authorized nine years ago.
Located beside a Colonial-style attraction called American Village, the cemetery will eventually include about 480 acres. The first phase will have room for the remains of more than 11,000 veterans.