Leanna Scachetti / WUFT News
The Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell Florida is already feeling the effects of the government shutdown. With furloughs expected, the cemetery will go from 63 employees to 19.
Ed Brown, its maintenance and operations supervisor, said the employee cut will affect the property upkeep. The headstones will not be trimmed, and there will be no mowing, trimming, or watering of the grass on the 500-plus-acre land, nor will anyone oversee its 100,000 headstones.
Despite the lack of maintenance, Brown said his staff will do its best to take care of the buried veterans.
"It's all about those who served us. It's time for us to serve them. Shutdown or no shutdown, we will take care of them," he said.
Brown said internments are the top priority for the cemetery, and they will stay open for internments and burials.