VA Memorials and Burials

Eligibility

Veterans who served as enlisted personnel after September 7, 1980, or as officers after October 16, 1981, at least one of these must also be true:

  • The Veteran served for a minimum of 24 months of continuous active duty, or
  • The Veteran died while serving on active duty

National Guard members

At least one of these must be true:

  • The National Guard member was entitled to retirement pay at their time of death (or would have been entitled if they were over 60 years old), or
  • The National Guard member served in a federal status and for the period of time they were called to serve

Reservists

At least one of these must be true:

  • The Reservist was entitled to retirement pay at their time of death (or would have been entitled if they were over 60 years old), or
  • The Reservist was called to active duty for purposes other than training

Note: National Guard members or Reservists who have only limited active-duty service for training aren’t eligible in most cases. They may be eligible in certain situations, such as if they died during or as the result of the training.

For Spouses or Dependent Children

A spouse or dependent child buried in a national cemetery, state or tribal Veterans cemetery, military post cemetery, or military base cemetery may be eligible for a headstone or marker. They may still be eligible even if they die before the Veteran.

In most cases, we provide one grave site and a single headstone for all eligible family members. But if 2 Veterans are married and we receive a request for separate grave sites and headstones, we can provide side-by-side grave sites with separate headstones.

VA Burial Benefits

NOTE – work with the funeral home that will handle the burial and memorial service. They often work with VA cemeteries and they can make many of the arrangements on your behalf.

Burial benefits available include

Some Veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances. Cremated remains are buried or interned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as remains in a casket .

Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran.

The Veterans family should make funeral or cremation arrangements with a funeral provider or cremation office. Any item or service obtained from a funeral home or cremation office will be at the family’s expense.

Headstones and Markers

Mandatory Items

Information for mandatory items must be in English about the decedent (provided by an authorized applicant). Such mandatory items are:

  • Legal Name, Branch of Service, Year of Birth, Year of Death, and for State Veterans and National Cemeteries only, the section and grave number.
  • Branches of Service include: U.S. Army (USA), U.S. Navy (USN), U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Space Force (USSF), U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASP), and other organizations authorized for certain periods of time. More than one branch of service is permitted, subject to space availability.
  • VA will inscribe the phrase “IN MEMORY OF” on all memorial headstones and markers

Optional Items

Information for optional items must be in English about the decedent (provided by an authorized applicant). Such optional items are:

  • War service includes active duty service during a recognized period of war and the individual does not have to serve in the actual place of war, e.g., Korea may be inscribed if the Veteran served during the Korean War period, even though the individual never served in the country. VA will inscribe authorized country names (e.g., Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.) as the war service only if the individual served in country.
  • The applicant must submit supporting documentation to VA to have the highest rank and/or awards inscribed on the headstone or marker.

Additional Items

Information for additional items must be in English or non-English text about the decedent (provided by an authorized applicant), consisting only of characters of the Latin alphabet and/or numbers. Examples of additional items include:

  • Appropriate terms of endearment, nicknames (in expressions such as “OUR BELOVED POPPY”), military or civilian credentials or accomplishments such as DOCTOR, REVEREND, etc., and special unit designations such as WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS, ARMY AIR CORPS, ARMY NURSE CORPS or SEABEES. The applicant must request an additional inscription item in block 18 on the form, and each request is subject to VA approval.
  • VA will not inscribe graphics, emblems or pictures. VA will inscribe authorized emblems of belief, the Medal of Honor, and the Southern Cross of Honor for Civil War Confederates.

Upright Headstones: Granite or Marble

The upright granite and upright marble headstones are 42 inches long, 13 inches wide and 4 inches thick. Weight is approximately 230 pounds. Variations may occur in stone color; the marble may contain light to moderate veining.

Flat Grave Markers: Granite or Marble

The flat granite and flat marble grave markers are 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.

Flat Grave Marker: Bronze

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.

Niche Marker: Bronze

The niche marker for a vault 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.