Free
Veteran Grave Markers,
how to obtain one.
Free veteran grave markers for most of the unmarked Veteran
graves of any American Veteran can be ordered from the
Veterans Administration. Grave Markers for Veterans are
available in a variety of grave marker types and are made
of either granite, marble or bronze. Any person can order
a memorial grave marker for the veteran. It is not necessary
to be a descendant or relative.
To obtain an Application for Standard
Government Headstone or Marker, write to the following
address:
Monument
Service
Department of Memorial Affairs
Veterans Administration
941 N. Capitol St., N.E.
Room 9320
Washington, D.C. 20420
or
click on the following links
www.cem.va.gov/
http://www.cem.va.gov/hm.htm
To download this form
you will need Adobe Acrobat
VA
Grave Marker Form
Upon
receipt of the Veteran Grave Marker application, complete
it as directed and take the filled out form on how you
wish the marker to read to the cemetery, they need to
agree to accept delivery of the grave marker, a cemetery
official has to sign the form. The cemetery will return
the form to the Veterans Administration for you normally.
Please
also note: Even though the veteran's grave
marker is free, you will most probably have to pay a setting,
care and or foundation fee to have it erected or placed
on your loved ones burial space within the cemetery.
Check
with the Cemetery to see if a V.A. Grave Marker is permissible
in the area where your loved one is laid to rest. Also
most Cemeteries will want the property owner of record
to give permission to place the veteran's grave marker
on the veteran's burial space.
Samples
of Veteran Markers
UPRIGHT
TYPES:
Most
cemeteries do not allow the upright headstones due to
the extra required ground maintenance that is needed.
These headstones are 42 inches long, 13 inches wide
and 4 inches thick. Weight is approximately 230 pounds.
Variations may occur in stone color, and the marble
may contain light to moderate veining.
|
Upright
Marble
|
Upright
Granite
|
FLAT
TYPES:
In some cemeteries a concrete border may be required,
to extend the size of the grave marker for the Veteran
to make it uniform in size to the surrounding markers,
this is known as a restricted area.
The
flat bronze grave marker is 24 inches long, 12 inches
wide, with 3/4 inch rise. Weight is approximately 18
pounds. Anchor bolts, nuts and washers for fastening
to a base are furnished with the marker. The government
does not furnish a base.
The flat granite and flat marble grave marker is 24
inches long, 12 inches wide, and 4 inches thick. Weight
is approximately 130 pounds. Variations may occur in
stone color; the marble may contain light to moderate
veining. (Shown is the Flat Granite)
| Bronze
|
Flat
Granite or Flat Marble
|
|
