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Burial
Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of the National Cemetery
Association's 119 national
cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual
care, a Government headstone or marker,
a grave liner for casketed remains, a
burial flag, and a Presidential
Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family.
Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and
with the same honors as casketed remains.
Government Headstone or Marker
The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government
headstone or marker to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran in any
cemetery around the world.
By law, Government markers are not provided to be used as foot stones and should not be
used to double-mark a veteran's grave. VA relies on the integrity of the
applicant to request a Government-provided headstone or marker only if the
grave is not, or will not be, marked with a private headstone or marker.
Headstones and markers are provided for eligible spouses and dependents of veterans only
when buried in a national, military post/base, or State veterans cemetery.
Spouses and dependents buried in a private cemetery are not eligible for a
Government-provided headstone or marker.
Flat bronze, granite or marble markers and upright granite and marble headstones are
available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the
place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for
inurnment of cremated remains.
Any deceased veteran discharged from the US Armed
Forces under conditions other than dishonorable is eligible.
Service after September 7, 1980, must be for a minimum of 24 months or be completed
under special circumstances, e.g., death on active duty. Persons with 20-years
service in the National Guard or Reserves who are entitled to retired pay
subsequent to October 27, 1992, are also eligible for a Government-furnished
headstone or marker. A copy of the Reserve Retirement Eligibility Benefits
Letter must accompany the application. Active duty service while in the
National Guard or Reserves also establishes eligibility.
Service prior to World War I requires detailed documentation to prove eligibility such
as, muster rolls, extracts from State files, military or State organization
where served, pension or land warrants, etc.
When burial or memorialization is in a national,
post, or State veterans' cemetery a headstone or marker will be ordered by the
cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of
kin.
When burial is in a private cemetery, VA
Form 40-1330, Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker for
Installation in a Private or State Veterans' Cemetery, must be
submitted by the next of kin, funeral director or cemetery representative,
along with a copy of the veteran's military discharge documents, to request a
Government-provided headstone or marker. Do not send original documents, as
they will not be returned.
VA Form 40-1330, Application for
Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation in a Private or State
Veterans' Cemetery and additional application information may be
obtained at any VA national cemetery or regional office by calling 1-800-827-1000.
This form is available on the Web Site; however, it may not be filled out and
submitted electronically or by fax.
All completed applications should be mailed to:
Memorial Programs Service (403)
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420-0001
Types of markers available
Upright Types
- Upright Marble
- Upright Granite
These headstones are 42 inches long, 13 inches wide and 4 inches
thick. Weight is approximately 230 pounds. Variations may occur in stone color,
and the marble may contain light to moderate veining.
Flat Types
- Flat Bronze
- Flat Granite
- Flat Marble
The flat bronze grave marker is 24 inches long, 12 inches wide,
with 3/4 inch rise. Weight is approximately 18 pounds. Anchor bolts, nuts and
washers for fastening to a base are furnished with the marker. The government
does not furnish a base.
The flat granite and flat marble grave marker is 24 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 4
inches thick. Weight is approximately 130 pounds. Variations may occur in stone
color; the marble may contain light to moderate veining.
Bronze Niche
This niche marker is 8 1/2 inches long, 5 1/2 inches wide, with
7/16 inch rise. Weight is approximately 3 pounds; mounting bolts and washers
are furnished with the marker.
NOTE:
Civil War Era Headstones - In
addition to the headstone and markers pictures, two special styles of upright
marble headstones and flat markers are available upon request - one for those
who served with the Union Forces, Civil War, or during the Spanish-American
War; and the other for those who served with the Confederate Forces, Civil War.
Request should be made in block 27 of the application. It is necessary to
submit detailed documentation that supports eligibility.
Memorial Headstones and Markers
Memorial headstones and markers, for individuals or groups, are provided for eligible
veterans whose remains are not recovered or identified, are buried at sea,
donated to science or whose cremated remains have been scattered.
Memorial headstones and markers may also be provided in national, military post/base or
state veterans cemeteries to eligible dependents whose remains are unavailable
for interment, whether or not they predecease the eligible veteran.
These headstones and markers bear an "In Memory of" inscription, as
their first line and must be placed in a recognized cemetery.
VA Form 40-1330, Application for
Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation in a Private or State
Veterans' Cemetery, must be submitted to request a memorial marker.
Replacement Headstones and Markers
Previously furnished headstones and markers may be replaced at
Government expense when badly deteriorated, illegible, stolen or vandalized. A
replacement is also available if the headstone or marker is different from that
specified by the applicant or permitted by the cemetery, the inscription is
incorrect, if it was damaged in transit, or the material or workmanship does
not meet specifications.
Government headstones or markers in private cemeteries damaged by cemetery personnel will
not be replaced at Government expense.
Marble or granite headstones or markers, permanently removed from a grave, must be
destroyed until illegible and bronze markers must be returned to the
contractor.
Please contact Memorial Programs Service at 1-800-697-6947 for guidance on
obtaining a replacement headstone or marker.
Civil War-Era Markers
There are specific styles of upright headstones and flat markers to mark the graves of
Union and Confederate Civil War and Spanish-American War dead.
Proof of military service prior to World War I requires detailed documentation, such as
muster rolls, extracts from State files, pension documents or land warrants, to
be considered for a Government-furnished headstone or marker.
Memorial markers are not usually provided for Civil War soldiers. The mere fact that the
whereabouts of the grave is not known is not reason enough for issuing a
government headstone or marker. The circumstances surrounding the soldiers'
death should be such that it is assumed the remains were unrecoverable or
unidentifiable due to burning, drowning or burial in a mass grave. If, however,
there is documentation the soldier was buried in a mass grave, but the actual
location of the body is unknown, VA will provide a memorial marker for
placement in a national, state veteran or private cemetery.
Presidential Memorial Certificate
A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper
certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably
discharged deceased veterans.
History
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This program was initiated in March 1962 by President John F.
Kennedy and has been continued by all subsequent Presidents. Statutory
authority for the program is Section 112, Title 38, of the United States Code.
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Administration
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the PMC
program by preparing the certificates which bear the President's signature
expressing the country's grateful recognition of the veteran's service in the
United States Armed Forces.
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Eligibility
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Eligible recipients include the deceased veteran's next of kin
and loved ones. More than one certificate may be provided.
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Application
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Eligible recipients, or someone acting on their behalf, may
apply for a PMC in person at any VA regional office or by U.S. mail only.
Requests cannot be sent via email. There is no form to use when requesting a
PMC. Please be sure to include a return mailing address with your request and a
copy of the veteran's discharge documents.
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Please send your PMC request to:
Department
of Veterans Affairs
National Cemetery Administration (403A)
810 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20420
Military Funeral Honors
"Honoring Those Who Served"
The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral
honors. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery
Administration cemetery staff assist with military funeral honors at VA
national cemeteries.
On January 1, 2000, the Department of Defense began the implementation plan for providing
military funeral honors for eligible veterans as enacted in Section 578 of
Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000.
"Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified
military funeral honors to veterans who have defended our Nation. While military
funeral honors are a long-standing tradition within the Armed Forces, this DOD
program is in response to the new law governing funeral honors for eligible
veterans.
Upon the family's request, the law requires that every eligible veteran receive a military
funeral honors ceremony to include folding and presenting the United States
burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors
detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at least
one a member of the veteran's parent service of the Armed Forces. The DOD
program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on
behalf of the veterans' family. Veterans organizations may assist in the
provision of military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a
national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service
by the funeral home.
Questions or comments concerning the DOD military funeral honors program may be sent to
the address listed below. A military funeral honors web site is located at www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil.
Military Funeral Honors
9504 IH-35 North, Suite 320
San Antonio, TX 78233-6635
To arrange military funeral honors, contact your local funeral home.
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