National Cemetery Burial, Headstones and Memorial Items — Who Is Eligible
VA's National Cemetery Administration provides burial in its national cemeteries and memorial items for eligible veterans, service members and some family members. This guide covers who is eligible, what burial includes, planning ahead, scheduling, headstones, markers and medallions, and burial flags and Presidential Memorial Certificates. Money toward funeral, plot and transportation costs is covered in VA burial allowances.
The rules below come from 38 U.S.C. 2306 and 2402 (U.S. Code, 2024 edition, on govinfo) and 38 CFR 38.617, 38.620, 38.630, 38.631 and 38.632 as published on eCFR (current through October 26, 2026), and from VA.gov's burial eligibility, pre-need, scheduling, headstone, private cemetery, medallion, burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate pages, all read on October 28, 2026.
Who is eligible for burial in a national cemetery
38 CFR 38.620 lists, among others:
| Who | Condition | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans | Includes a person who died in active service | 38.620(a) |
| Reserve and Guard members | Died under honorable conditions while hospitalized or treated at U.S. expense for an injury or disease incurred on active duty for training or inactive-duty training | 38.620(b) |
| Reserve retirees | Entitled to retired pay under 10 U.S.C. chapter 1223 at death, or would have been but for being under 60 | 38.620(g) |
| Spouses and children | The spouse or surviving spouse, including one who remarried; a minor child (unmarried, under 21, or under 23 in full-time school); and an unmarried adult child who became permanently unable to support themselves before 21, or 23 if in school | 38.620(e) |
| Parents | Parents of a veteran who died on or after October 7, 2001, from hostile action, friendly fire or combat-mission training, in limited cases, within the veteran's own gravesite | 38.620(i) |
The list also covers ROTC members who die in training, U.S. citizens who served with an allied force in wartime, certain Philippine and Hmong veterans, and others the Secretary designates (38.620(c), (d), (f), (h), (j)). VA.gov adds groups such as NOAA and Public Health Service officers and World War II Merchant Mariners.
VA.gov says a veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge, and that a VA regional office decides eligibility where the discharge was other than honorable or there were several discharges of different character. See character of discharge.
VA.gov lists these as not eligible:
| Not eligible | Note |
|---|---|
| A former spouse whose marriage to the veteran ended by divorce or annulment | Unless the former spouse is also a veteran |
| A person who was ordered to an induction station but never entered service | |
| A person convicted of a federal or state capital crime, or of a tier III sex offense with a sentence of life or of 99 years or more | Once the conviction is final (38.617) |
| A person convicted of subversive activities after September 1, 1959 | Unless pardoned |
VA.gov says the capital-crime and sex-offense bars also rule out a Presidential Memorial Certificate, burial flag, headstone and marker.
What burial includes
VA.gov lists these at no cost to the family: a gravesite in any national cemetery with available space, opening and closing of the grave, a government burial liner, a government headstone or marker, and perpetual care of the gravesite.
Veterans, service members and Reservists also qualify for a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and military funeral honors from the Defense Department.
Planning ahead and scheduling
VA.gov offers a pre-need determination of eligibility, applied for online or on VA Form 40-10007. It can't be used once the person has died. The decision letter does not name a cemetery or gravesite, since those can't be reserved in advance, and VA may review eligibility again at the time of death. VA can't guarantee your preferred cemetery. For Arlington National Cemetery or the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, VA.gov says to contact Arlington directly; for a state, territory or tribal veterans cemetery, contact that cemetery about its own pre-need program.
At the time of need, you or the funeral director call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, according to VA.gov. Have the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers ready. VA.gov says it may take several days to check eligibility without them.
Headstones, markers and medallions
Unmarked graves
On request, VA furnishes a headstone or marker for anyone buried in a national cemetery or a military post cemetery. It also furnishes one for an eligible veteran buried in any other cemetery, including state, tribal, private and local government cemeteries (38.630(a)(1)).
Graves with a private headstone
VA can still furnish a government headstone or marker for a veteran who died on or after November 1, 1990 (38.630(a)(2)). Whatever the date of death, it can instead provide a medallion to attach to the private headstone if the veteran served on or after April 6, 1917 (38 U.S.C. 2306(d)(4)).
Spouses and children
In a national, state or tribal veterans cemetery or a military post cemetery, VA.gov says a spouse or dependent child may be eligible for a headstone or marker, even if they die before the veteran. In a private cemetery they are not eligible for their own headstone, but VA.gov says they can be added to the veteran's headstone. If the veteran died on or after October 1, 2019, the inscription can include their name, dates of birth and death, and a term of endearment.
Service length
VA.gov says that for enlisted service after September 7, 1980, or officer service after October 16, 1981, the veteran generally needs 24 months of continuous active duty or must have died on active duty.
Applying
Where the cemetery uses NCA's electronic ordering system, such as a national, state veterans or military post cemetery, the cemetery orders it as part of the burial (38.630(b)(1)(i)). Otherwise, use VA Form 40-1330 for a headstone or marker, or VA Form 40-1330M for a medallion. Applicants can include family members, a personal representative, a VSO representative, a state or county veterans service officer, and anyone legally responsible for unclaimed remains (38.630(c)(1)). VA.gov lists mail to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547, as well as online and fax options.
Costs and replacements
VA delivers headstones and markers to a private cemetery but does not pay to install them, and it does not pay to attach a medallion (38.630(b)(4)). It replaces a government headstone that is damaged beyond repair, illegible, stolen or vandalized, the wrong style, or needs certain inscription corrections (38.630(b)(3)).
Memorial markers and emblems of belief
When remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, were donated to science, or were cremated and scattered, a family member can request a memorial headstone or marker inscribed "In Memory Of" (38.631). Emblems of belief can be inscribed; a new emblem not in VA's inventory goes through the request process in 38.632.
Burial flags and Presidential Memorial Certificates
VA.gov says the next of kin or a close friend can get a burial flag to drape the casket or place with an urn for eligible veterans and Reservists. Its list includes wartime service, death on active duty after May 27, 1941, and service after January 31, 1955. Apply on VA Form 27-2008 through a funeral director, a VA regional office or a U.S. post office.
VA.gov describes Presidential Memorial Certificates as engraved paper certificates signed by the current president, for a veteran or Reservist eligible for national cemetery burial. VA presents one to the next of kin at a national cemetery burial. Otherwise a family member or close friend can apply online or on VA Form 40-0247, and VA accepts multiple requests.
For a private cemetery, VA.gov says a veteran may get a headstone or marker, or a medallion, plus a flag and certificate, but not a plaque or urn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse be buried in a national cemetery?
Yes. 38 CFR 38.620(e) makes the spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran eligible, including a surviving spouse who later remarried. VA.gov says a former spouse whose marriage to the veteran ended in divorce or annulment is not eligible, unless they are a veteran themselves.
What does burial in a national cemetery cost?
VA.gov lists the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a burial liner, a government headstone or marker, and perpetual care at no cost to the family. Funeral home charges are separate; see the burial allowance guide for help with those costs.
Can I reserve a gravesite in advance?
No. A pre-need determination (VA Form 40-10007) confirms eligibility ahead of time, but VA.gov says the decision letter does not name a cemetery or gravesite, since those can't be reserved in advance.
The grave already has a headstone. Can we still get a government one?
For a veteran who died on or after November 1, 1990, yes: 38 CFR 38.630(a)(2) allows a government headstone or marker for a privately marked grave. Whatever the date of death, a veteran who served on or after April 6, 1917, can instead get a medallion to attach to the private headstone. VA does not pay to install or attach them.
What if there are no remains to bury?
A family member can request a memorial headstone or marker, inscribed "In Memory Of," when remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, were donated to science, or were cremated and scattered (38 CFR 38.631).