Veterans Affairs Burial Benefits Have Changed

Veterans Affairs (VA) headstones may now be placed on a previously marked grave dating to November 2, 1990. Any veteran who died after November 2, 1990, is now eligible for a VA headstone even if the grave is marked. Unmarked graves are always eligible for headstone placement, the VA reported.

The previous cut-off date for placing VA headstones was September 13, 2001.

Amedallion will be available in spring 2009 that can be added to existing headstones to show that a veteran is buried there. By law, VA headstones may not be used as a footstone on a grave.

For more information, contact Jim Shogren of Chippewa County Veterans Affairs at (906) 635-6370 or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs at (800) 827-1000.