The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death.
A government-furnished headstone or marker may be provided for eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990 and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone. A government-furnished medallion may be provided for eligible veterans who served on or after April 6, 1917 and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.
Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. Bronze niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains. The style chosen must be permitted by officials in charge of the private cemetery where it will be placed.
When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscrption informaiton provided by the next of kin or authorized representative. Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a government-furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.
Note: There is no charge for the headstone or marker itself, however arrangements for placing it in a private cemetery are the applicant's responsibility and all setting fees are at private expense.
Setting Government Headstones and Markers
Cemetery staff in national, military post, and military base cemeteries are responsible for setting the headstone or marker at no cost to the applicant. Some state veterans' cemeteries may charge the applicant a nominal fee for setting a government-furnished headstone or marker. Arrangements for setting a government-furnished headstone or marker in a private cemetery are the applicant's responsibiity and all placement costs are at private expense.
Please visit the National Cemetery Association's page on the VA website for complete information on eligibility, forms, current rules, and all other information.