FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

AUTHORIZATION:

National Cemeteries Act of 1973; Public Laws 93- 43, 101-508, 102-86, 102-568, 103-240, and 103-446; 38 U.S.C. 2306, 2402, 2403 2404, and 5303A.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide burial space and perpetual care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces of the United States whose service terminated other than dishonorably, Reservists and National Guard members having 20 years qualifying service for the purpose of receiving retired pay and certain eligible dependents.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Interment or memorialization in a national cemetery is for eligible veterans; members of the Armed Forces of the United States; all persons, including Reservists and National Guard members with 20 years of qualifying service, who are entitled to retired pay or would be entitled, if at least 60 years of age, under Chapter 67, title 10, United States Code; and dependents meeting eligibility requirements.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Applicant may be the next of kin, a friend of the decedent or a public assistance officer.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Eligible Veterans, members of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) who die on active duty; members of the Reserve or the Army and Air National Guard who die while performing active duty for training; all persons including Reservists and National Guard members having 20 years of qualifying service for the purpose of receiving retired pay or are eligible for retired pay but are under 60 years of age; the spouse of an eligible veteran member of the Armed forces or individual receiving retired pay (including a 20-year Reservist or National Guard member); the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States lost or buried at sea or officially determined to be permanently absent in a status of missing or missing in action; minor children and certain unmarried adult children of an eligible veteran or member of the Armed forces, or individual receiving retired pay (including a 20-year Reservist and National Guard member) are eligible for interment. Enlisted personnel who entered military duty after September 7, 1980, and officers commissioned after October 16, 1981, must have served a minimum of 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty to be eligible for interment. Citizens of the United States who served in the Armed Forces of any government allied with the United States during any war, who were citizens of the U.S. at time of entry and are citizens of the U.S. at time of death; Certain Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are also eligible. Groups determined to have active duty service are eligible for all VA benefits under the provisions of Section 401, Public Law 95-202. Reservists who are activated under Presidential Order under title 10, may also be eligible.

Credentials/Documentation:   Present documentation of qualifying military service to Cemetery staff at the time the request for interment is made. National Cemetery Administration personnel will assist in verifying entitlement if documentation is not available. In addition, for a memorial headstone or marker, an affidavit attesting to the disposition of the remains is required.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   The person in charge of funeral arrangements (next of kin or funeral director) should communicate with the staff of the national cemetery in which interment or memorialization is desired, and furnish the name and official documentation of military service of the veteran on whose service the burial is predicated. If documentation is not available, as much of the following data as is available should be provided: Branch of service; rank; service number; social security number; VA claim number; date and place of entry into and separation from last period of active service; date and place of birth; and, date of death. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Application for a memorial headstone or marker must be submitted on VA Form 40-1330, "Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation in a Private or State Veterans' Cemetery."

Award Procedure:   Scheduling of a time and date for a committal service in a national cemetery will be made by the Cemetery staff upon verification of eligibility.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Not applicable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   None.

Audits:   None.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   36-0129-0-1-705.

Obligations:   (Salaries and Expenses) FY 01 $105,497,000; FY 02 est $117,781,000; and FY 03 est $134,337,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Not applicable.

Interments in fiscal year 2001 totaled 84,822. Estimate of interments for fiscal year 2002 is 87,000, and for fiscal year 2003, 90,500. By the end of fiscal year 2002, there will be 120 operating national cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Of this number, 61 have space available for casketed and cremated remains; 24 have space available for the casketed interment of eligible family members of those already interred at the cemetery, and for cremated remains; and 35 have space available only for the interment of eligible family members of those already interred.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

The following brochures are available at the Washington Office and other VA offices at no charge: "Interments in VA National Cemeteries" (NCA IS-1) and "National Cemetery Administration" (NCA-IS-2). Gravesite locator maps, and informational leaflets are available for many of the national cemeteries.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Regional Agency Offices. Memorial Service Network Offices are located at: 5000 Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144; 1700 Clairmont Road, 4th Floor, Decatur, GA 30033-4032; P.O. Box 25126, Denver, CO 80225; 575 North Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204; 1301 Clay St., 1230 North, Oakland, CA 94612-5209. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for contacts and telephone numbers of Memorial Service Network Offices in the National Cemetery Administration under Department of Veterans Affairs.

Headquarters Office:   Patrick Hallinan 810 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20420 Phone: 202-461-6248

Web Site Address:  
https://www.va.gov/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.

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