Glossary
What is national cemetery?
A national cemetery is a federal burial ground, most run by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, for eligible veterans and certain family members. Burial in a VA national cemetery includes the grave, opening and closing, a liner, and a headstone at no cost.
The VA National Cemetery Administration operates national cemeteries across the country, and a number of states run their own veterans cemeteries with similar benefits. Eligible veterans — generally those who did not receive a dishonorable discharge — and in many cases their spouses and dependents, can be buried there.
For an eligible veteran, VA national cemetery burial typically includes the gravesite, its opening and closing, a grave liner, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and perpetual care, all at no cost to the family. Some benefits, such as a headstone or marker and a burial flag, can also apply when a veteran is buried in a private cemetery.
A national cemetery is not the same as Arlington National Cemetery, which is administered by the Army under stricter eligibility rules, nor does VA burial cover the funeral home's charges for preparing and transporting the body. Eligibility rules can be detailed and change over time, so families confirm them directly with the VA, ideally with the veteran's discharge papers (such as the DD-214) on hand.
Related terms
Veterans burial benefits
Veterans burial benefits are services the US Department of Veterans Affairs provides for eligible veterans, which can include burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
Interment
Interment is the act of placing a body or cremated remains in their final resting place, most often by burying a casket in the ground or entombing it in a crypt. The cemetery fee to open and close the grave is commonly called the interment charge.
Grave liner
A grave liner is a basic outer burial container that covers the top and sides of a casket in the ground. Like a burial vault, it keeps the ground from settling, but it is unsealed and usually less expensive than a fully sealed vault.
Disposition
Disposition refers to the final handling of a body — most commonly burial, entombment, cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis. The method of disposition is recorded on official paperwork and usually requires authorization from the legal next of kin.
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Common questions about National cemetery
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