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How to Make Burial Arrangements in a National Cemetery
Requests for burial in a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national
cemetery cannot be made via the Internet.
No special forms are required when requesting burial in a VA national cemetery.
The person making burial arrangements should contact the national cemetery in
which burial is desired at the time of need.
Scheduling can be done seven days a week for interments on Mondays through
Fridays. If possible, the following information concerning the deceased should
be provided when the cemetery is first contacted:
Full name and military rank;
Branch of service;
Social security number;
Service number;
VA claim number, if applicable;
Date and place of birth;
Date and place of death;
Date of retirement or last separation from active duty; and,
Copy of any military separation documents, such as the Department of
Defense Form 214 (DD-214).
The discharge documents must specify active military duty and show that release
from active duty was under other than dishonorable conditions.
Viewing facilities are not available and funeral services cannot be held at VA
national cemeteries, but a final committal service may be performed. For safety
reasons, these committal services are held in committal shelters located away
from the gravesite.
Floral arrangements may accompany the casket or urn from the committal shelter
and will be placed on the grave after burial.
A headstone or marker will be ordered by cemetery personnel upon inscription
approval by the next of kin and a burial flag will be provided.
Upright headstones are standard in most national cemeteries, however, some have
both upright headstone and flat marker sections. Be sure to discuss these
options with the cemetery director prior to burial.
The same procedures are followed if the veteran's eligible spouse or dependent
predeceases the veteran. In most cases, one gravesite is provided for the burial
of all eligible family members and a single headstone or marker is provided.
When both spouses are veterans, two gravesites and two headstones or markers may
be provided if requested.
Military honors are not provided by the national cemetery. These honors must be
arranged in advance by the family or their representative with groups that
provide the honors.
National Cemetery Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.cem.va.gov/need.htm
-- This report posted by Roger Simpson, PIO
The American War Library
16907 Brighton Avenue
Gardena CA 90247-5420
1-310-532-0634
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