VA provides several memorial benefits to honor the service of deceased veterans. These benefits are available to all veterans who received a discharge other than dishonorable, regardless of whether they had a disability rating. Government headstones and markers are available at no cost for eligible veterans. For veterans buried in national or state veterans cemeteries, the headstone or marker is provided and placed automatically. For veterans buried in private cemeteries, the family can request a government headstone, marker, or medallion that can be affixed to a privately purchased headstone. The options include upright marble or granite headstones, flat bronze, marble, or granite markers, and bronze niche covers for columbarium placement. A burial flag is provided to drape the casket of eligible veterans and is presented to the next of kin after the funeral service. The flag is a standard-size American flag and represents a grateful nation appreciation for the veteran service. Presidential Memorial Certificates are issued in the name of the President and express gratitude for the veteran service. These certificates are available to the next of kin and other loved ones. There is no limit on the number of certificates that can be requested. Families can apply for these memorial benefits through their funeral director, a veterans service organization, or directly through VA. Most of these benefits can be requested well after the veteran has passed.
Note: This article references sections of the VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual. The VA periodically reorganizes the M21-1 and section numbers may have changed since this article was written. For the most current section references, visit the VA's public M21-1 Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS).