NATIONAL
CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
AUTHORIZATION:
National
Cemeteries Act of 1973; 38 U.S.C. 2306, 2403 and 2404(a)(b)(c);
Veterans' Disability Compensation and Survivors' Benefits Act of
1978, Section 303(b); Public Laws 93-43, 95-479, 95-476, and 102-547;
38 U.S.C. 313(a), 38 U.S.C. 112.
To
provide headstones and markers to memorialize veterans, all persons,
including Reservists and National Guard members with 20 years of
qualifying service, who are entitled to retired pay or would be
entitled, if at least 60 years of age, under Chapter 67, title 10,
United States Code, and their eligible dependents, in national,
post and State veterans cemeteries and, upon receipt of application,
for the memorialization of eligible veterans only in private cemeteries.
Memorialization commemorates any veteran whose remains have not
been recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science,
or cremated and scattered without interment. To provide Presidential
Memorial Certificates to honor the memory of honorably discharged,
deceased veterans.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
For
deaths occurring before December 27, 2001, government-furnished
headstones and markers may be provided only for the unmarked graves
of eligible veterans. For those that die on or after December 27,
2001, government-furnished headstones and markers are provided for
the grave of eligible veterans regardless if the grave is already
marked with a privately purchased headstone. Benefits include: procurement
of Government headstones and markers; authorized inscription; costs
of shipment to destination; installation and maintenance costs in
national, State and post cemeteries; and, replacements when headstones
and markers are severely damaged, when inscriptions are incorrect,
or when inscriptions have become illegible. All government-furnished
memorial headstones or markers must be placed in a cemetery.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: When burial or memorialization
is in a private cemetery, the applicant is normally the next of
kin. In the absence of relatives, the applicant need not be a member
of the deceased's family. The applicant's signature on VA Form 40-1330,
"Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation
in a Private or State Veterans Cemetery," certifies all information
on the application is correct, and the type of headstone or marker
requested is permitted by the cemetery on the grave of the veteran,
or for memorialization in an appropriate are of the cemetery. If
a burial or memorialization plot is in a national cemetery or State
veterans cemetery, the Cemetery Director orders the headstone or
marker, after completion of the interment in the cemetery, or upon
need for replacement.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Any deceased veteran of wartime
or peacetime service who was discharged under conditions other
than dishonorable. Service after September 7, 1980 for enlisted
personnel and October 16, 1981 for commissioned officers, must
be for a minimum of 24 months or the period for which ordered
or be completed under special circumstances; for example, death
on active duty, or any active duty during the Persian Gulf War
qualifies for this benefit. In addition, members of the Reserve
and the Army and Air National Guard who die while performing,
or as a result of performing, active duty for training or are
entitled to retirement pay subsequent to October 27, 1992; all
persons, including Reservists and National Guard members having
20 years of qualifying service for the purpose of receiving retired
pay or are eligible for retired pay, but are under 60 years of
age; Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Merchant Mariners
and certain other categories of individuals who participated in
wartime activities whose service has been classified as active
duty by the Secretary of the Air Force in accordance with Public
Law 95-202 may also be eligible. Spouses and certain other dependents
of those eligible for a headstone or marker and buried in a national,
State or post cemetery are also eligible.
Credentials/Documentation:
Copy of the veteran's Report of Separation (DD 214) or equivalent,
or other official military documents. In addition, for a memorial
headstone or marker a statement attesting to the disposition of
the remains is required.
Pre-application
Coordination: If the headstone or marker is
to be placed in a nonfederal cemetery, the approval of the cemetery
operator must be secured. This program is excluded from coverage
under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Applicant must complete VA Form
40-1330, Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker,
in accordance with the General Information and instructions attached
to the application and submit it to the Department of Veterans
Affairs. Submission to the VA is preferred by toll free fax at
1-800-455- 7143. It may also be mailed to: Director, Memorial
Programs Service (403A), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420-0001. Detailed instructions
for submitting the application can be referenced at the official
website for the National Cemetery Administration at www.cem.va.gov.
Applications are also available at this website, or they can be
obtained at any VA Regional Office, State and County Veterans
Service Office, and most funeral homes. Xerographic copies with
original signatures of applicant, consignee and cemetery officials
are acceptable. Letters requesting Presidential Memorial Certificates
may be mailed to Memorial Programs Service (403A), Department
of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420-0001.
Requests for PMCs may also be made by telephone to (202) 565-4259.
Award
Procedure: Not applicable.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Not applicable.
Audits:
Not applicable.
Records:
Not applicable.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 36-0155-0-1-701 (Benefits);
36-0129-0-1-705 (Salaries and Expenses).
Obligations:
(Benefits) FY 01 $27,543,000; FY 02 est $35,068,000; and FY 03
est $35,785,000. (Salaries and Expenses) FY 01 $3,429,000; FY
02 est $3,770,000; and FY 03 est $4,151,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
In fiscal year 2001, 327,484 applications were processed for standard
government headstones and markers. It is estimated that the total
applications processed will be 347,300 in fiscal year 2002, and
349,400 in fiscal year 2003. Procurement of headstones or markers
in fiscal year 2001 was 304,296, and estimates are 334,600 in fiscal
year 2002, and 333,700 in fiscal year 2003. In fiscal year 2001,
327,561 Presidential Memorial Certificates were issued. It is estimated
that 341,200 will be issued in fiscal year 2002, and 335,700 in
fiscal year 2003.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
"Application
for Standard Government Headstone or Marker" (VA Form 40-1330),
contains instructions for completing the form, and illustrations
of the types of headstones and markers. It is available at Department
of Veterans Affairs Regional Offices at no charge. Presidential
Memorial Certificates may be requested through Department of Veterans
Affairs Regional Offices and national cemeteries.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Memorial Programs Service Processing
Sites: MPS Processing Sites are located at: Ft. Leavenworth National
Cemetery, 395 Biddle Boulevard, Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-2307.
Toll-free telephone: 1-888-460-9709. Fax: (913) 758-1839. Nashville
National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Road South, Madison, TN 37115-4619.
Toll-free telephone: 1-888-367-1330. Fax: (615) 736-2840. Lebanon
VA Medical Center, 1700 South Lincoln Avenue, Building #27, Lebanon,
PA 17042. Toll-free telephone: 1-888-574-9107. Fax: (717) 270-9428.
Headquarters
Office: Director, Memorial Programs Service
(403), National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420-0001. Contact:
David K. Schettler. Telephone: (202) 501-3100. Program Support
Unit; issues relating to headstone and marker: Contractor's telephone
number: (202) 501-3027. Applicant Assistance; shipment tracer
information; problems with shipments arriving C.O.D.; eligibility
matters; inscription matters; and, problems relating to quality
of headstones and markers telephone: 1-800-697-6947. For questions
concerning Presidential Memorial Certificates telephone: (202)
565-4259.
