VA Adds Nearly 2 Million Records to Online Gravesite Locator
The burial locations of more than 5 million veterans for whom theDepartment of Veterans Affairs (VA) has provided grave markers are nowavailable on the Internet, as well as the information inscribed on themarkers.
Online since April 2004, the nationwide gravesite locator (http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov) helps veterans’ families, former comrades-in-arms and others find the graves of veterans.
VArecently added 1.9 million records for veterans buried primarily inprivate cemeteries to its database. The gravesite locator previouslycarried records on 3 million veterans buried in VA national cemeteriessince the Civil War, and in state veterans cemeteries and ArlingtonNational Cemetery since 1999.
“The expansion of this innovativeprogram continues VA’s commitment to using Internet technology tofulfill the important mission of memorializing our nation’s veterans,”said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.”By adding records to our online database, VA also helps familiesresearch their genealogy and ensures that future generations ofAmericans will be able to honor these veterans for their service.”
Thenew records date from January 1997, the earliest time for whichelectronic records exist. The information comes from applications madefor these veterans’ headstones or markers. Beyond the 5 million recordsnow available, VA continues to add approximately 1,000 new records tothe database each day.
Last year, VA furnished nearly 369,000 inscribed headstones and markers for veterans’ graves worldwide.
Internetusers only need to provide the last name of the deceased veteran ordependent. Typically, the information available includes name, birthand death dates, rank, branch of service and the address and phonenumber of the cemetery.
Veterans whose discharges are other thandishonorable, their spouses and dependent children may be buried in anational cemetery, regardless of where they live. No advancereservations are made. VA provides perpetual care, as well as aheadstone or marker, a burial flag and a memorial certificate tosurvivors.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from a VA Web site at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.