VA Headstones & Markers: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes
upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a headstone or marker for the
unmarked grave of any deceased veteran discharged from the US Armed Forces
under conditions other than dishonorable. 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. 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.
The Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 included a
provision that upgraded the original benefit. The VA will now accept
applications for markers under the provisions of Public Law 107-103 for
those whose deaths occur on or after December 27, 2001 regardless of
whether the grave is already marked with a non-government marker. 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. The form can be downloaded at
www.cem.va.gov/pdf/401330.pdf. Do not send original documents, as they will
not be returned. Until this form is revised, applicants should ignore
references to "unmarked graves" and should note in Box 27, Remarks that
this will be a second marker to mark a veteran's gravesite. This new
provision will be codified at 38 U.S.C. § 2306(d). [Source: Veterans
Resources Network msg. 2 FEB 02 & http://www.cem.va.gov/whatsnew.htm ]

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