Veterans Services
Most men and women who have been in the military are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, as are their dependent children and usually their spouses. Similar benefits are available to veterans buried in state operated veterans cemeteries and private cemeteries.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) manages the country's network of over 2.7 million gravesites at 123 national cemeteries located in 39 states and Puerto Rico, as well as in 33 soldier's lots and monument sites. The VA also assists states in providing gravesites for veterans in areas where national cemeteries cannot fully satisfy their burial needs. Currently, there are over 60 such cemeteries in 37 states, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands.
Burial benefits at a VA cemetery include a gravesite (with available space), opening and closing the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.
Burial benefits available for veterans in a private cemetery include a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a President Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances, but there are not any benefits available to spouses and dependents buried in a private cemetery.
No special forms are required when requesting burial in a VA national cemetery. The person making burial arrangements should have their funeral home contact the national cemetery in which burial is desired at the time of need.
In 2005, more than 93,000 veterans were buried in VA's national cemeteries. Additionally, the VA provided nearly 369,000 headstones and markers and 448,000 Presidential Memorial Certificates to the loved ones of deceased veterans. VA-assisted state veterans' cemeteries provided more than 20,000 internments.