Military Funeral Planning

Monuments for Military Burials

The Department of Veterans Affairs designed a medallion in 2009 to be attached to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker to commemorate the deceased’s veteran status.  You can request that this new product be supplied in lieu of traditional Government headstones, monuments, or markers to any veteran that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.  Eligible veterans are entitled to either a traditional Government-furnished headstone or marker, or the new medallion, but not both.

Overall, there are three basic options for monuments for a Military Funeral:

1.  Upright Monuments. These headstones are 42” long, 13” wide, and 4” thick, and are available in marble or granite.  All hardware is furnished with the headstone; however, the government does not furnish a base.

2.  Flat Monuments: The flat bronze marker is 24” long, 12” wide, and ¾”  rise.  Again, all hardware is available for fastening to a base but the base is not included.   The flat granite and marble grave markers are 24” long, 12” wide, and 4” thick

3.  Bronze Niche: This marker is 8 ½ “long, 5 ½” wide with 7/16” rise.  All hardware is included.

For More Information About:

Military Funeral Planning

Military Cemeteries

Military Burial at Sea

Military Funeral Etiquette

Military Burial Eligibility Requirements

Elements of a Military Funeral and Military Burial