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NARRATOR: The National Cemetery Administration provides burial benefits for Veterans and
their loved ones at more than one hundred and thirty VA national cemeteries across the
country. As Abraham Lincoln said, we care for “those honored dead,” who gave their
“… last full measure of devotion.” We are proud to fulfill our nation’s debt of
gratitude to Veterans and their loved ones.
NARRATOR: VA’s commitment to each eligible veteran includes a committal service, with
military honors if requested; a gravesite at a VA national cemetery; opening and closing
of the grave; a headstone or marker, and perpetual care of the gravesite … at no expense to
the family.
NARRATOR: Veterans may also be eligible for a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Each
Certificate is embossed with a gold Presidential seal, and bears the official signature of
the President of the United States.
NARRATOR: In preparation for the committal service at the cemetery, you or your funeral
home should contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, where an agent will confirm
burial eligibility, and coordinate all the arrangements for the interment of your loved
one.
NARRATOR: The committal service for a Veteran’s spouse or dependent children is processed
in the same manner as a Veteran who will be interred without military honors.
NARRATOR: Your national cemetery will advise the funeral home or the family where to check
in upon arrival.
NARRATOR: This may be the cemetery’s administrative office, or a staging area where the vehicles
in a funeral party can line up while waiting for others to gather
NARRATOR: A cemetery representative will meet your party and escort you to the committal
shelter - a private, covered, open-air pavilion away from the distractions of other cemetery
operations. Services at VA national cemeteries are held in committal shelters rather than
at the gravesite.
NARRATOR: Committal services are carefully scheduled to ensure that each family receives
the same opportunity to say farewell to their loved one in a solemn and dignified place.
NARRATOR: The committal service is your opportunity to hold a brief ceremony of your choosing.
This is a perfect time to read a poem, sing a hymn or say a prayer. The committal service
at the cemetery usually follows a longer, sometimes more elaborate funeral service at
a church, synagogue, mosque, funeral home or other facility. The family or the funeral
home must make the arrangements to use clergy of their choice in a committal service. Your
funeral director can provide you with information about available resources.
NARRATOR: Some VA national cemeteries conduct as many as twenty or more committal services
per day. We ask that you keep your use of the committal shelter brief to enable us to
serve you and other Veterans and their families
NARRATOR: At the conclusion of the committal service, your loved one’s remains will be
transferred to the grave site for interment. You are welcome to visit the gravesite at
the end of the workday. This allows the cemetery staff to inter the remains, and remove all
equipment in preparation for your visit.
NARRATOR: When you and your family visit the gravesite, you will see a temporary grave
marker, along with some of the flowers that accompanied the casket. Grass seed or sod
will be placed on the grave as soon as possible, unless the cemetery uses a “water wise”
or natural type of landscaping.
NARRATOR: Veterans and spouses are buried together in the same gravesite unless both
are veterans; then they may choose adjacent gravesites. All veterans and family members
buried in a national cemetery receive the standard grave marker already in use in the
section where they are buried. This may be an upright headstone or a flat marker. These
all bear an inscription that displays the Veteran’s name, highest rank attained, branch
of service and their dates of birth and death. Depending on space available, the inscription
can also include the Veteran’s war service period, decorations for valor and terms of
endearment. In addition, you may request an emblem of belief, displayed at the top of
the headstone or marker. You can expect the permanent headstone or marker to be in place
within 60 days of the date of interment.
NARRATOR: After the interment, the columbarium or gravesite will be cared for for all eternity.
NARRATOR: We are dedicated to ensuring that your loved one will rest in a place of dignity
and respect, a national shrine worthy of their service to our nation. For more information
about Veterans burial benefits provided by the National Cemetery Administration, please
visit us online at www.cem.va.gov, or call VA at 1-800-827-1000 or the VA national cemetery
nearest you. And thank you for your service.