38 CFR § 38.631 - Memorial headstones and markers.
(a) Eligibility.
(1) VA will furnish, when requested under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, a memorial headstone or marker to commemorate the following individuals whose remains are unavailable:
(i) A veteran (which includes an individual who dies in the active military, naval, or air service), where the headstone or marker may be provided for a national cemetery, a State, local, or private cemetery, a veterans' cemetery owned by a State, or a veterans' cemetery owned by a tribal organization or on land owned by or held in trust for a tribal organization.
(ii) An individual who dies on or after November 11, 1998, who is the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran (which includes a surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage), or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, as shown by a statement from a general court-martial convening authority, at the time of the spouse's death if such death occurs before October 1, 2024—where the headstone or marker may be provided for a national cemetery, a veterans' cemetery owned by a State, or a veterans' cemetery of a Tribal Organization or on land owned by or held in trust for a Tribal Organization;
(iii) An individual who dies on or after November 11, 1998, who is an eligible dependent child of a veteran, or the eligible dependent child of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, as shown by a statement from a general court-martial convening authority, at the time of the child's death if such death occurs before October 1, 2024—where the headstone or marker may be provided for a national cemetery, a veterans' cemetery owned by a State, or a veterans' cemetery of a Tribal Organization or on land owned by or held in trust for a Tribal Organization—if that dependent child is:
(A) Under the age of 21 years; or
(B) Under the age of 23 years if pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution; or
(C) Unmarried and became permanently physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before reaching the age of 21 years, or before reaching the age of 23 years if pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution.
(2) When VA has furnished a burial headstone or marker under § 38.630(a)(1), VA will, if feasible, add a memorial inscription to that headstone or marker (or provide a replacement headstones or marker to newly include a memorial inscription) rather than furnishing a separate memorial headstone or marker for the surviving spouse or eligible dependent child of such individual, in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 2306(g)(1).
(3) When VA has furnished a memorial headstone or marker under paragraph (a)(1) of this section for purposes of commemorating a veteran or an individual who died in the active military, naval, or air service, VA will, if feasible, add a memorial inscription to that headstone or marker (or provide a replacement headstones or marker to newly include a memorial inscription) rather than furnishing a separate memorial headstone or marker for the surviving spouse or eligible dependent child of such individual, in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 2306(g)(2).
(b) General—(1) Application.
(i) An applicant, as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, may request a memorial headstone or marker by completing and submitting VA Form 40–1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker. VA Form 40–1330 includes application and submission instructions and is accessible through the following link: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330.pdf.
(ii) A representative of a private cemetery or local government cemetery that accepts delivery of a memorial headstone or marker must certify on VA Form 40–1330 that placement of the headstone or marker adheres to the policies or guidelines of the cemetery in which the grave is located.
(2) Styles, types, and inscriptions. The styles and types of memorial headstones and markers provided under this section, as well as the inscriptions thereon to include emblems of belief, will be provided in accordance with VA policy as well as in a manner consistent with 38 U.S.C. 2306(c).
(i) The styles and types of memorial headstones and markers made available for selection, as well as the inscriptions thereon, may be limited in accordance with certain requirements, including but not limited to aesthetic or administrative requirements of a cemetery.
(ii) All inscriptions for memorial headstones and markers must be preceded by the phrase “In Memory Of”.
(iii) If an emblem of belief is requested that is not offered in VA's inventory of images for emblems of belief, additional requirements apply under § 38.632.
(3) Replacement.
(i) Upon request, VA will replace a Government-furnished memorial headstone or marker, if the previously furnished headstone or marker:
(A) Is damaged beyond repair; or
(B) Has deteriorated to the extent it no longer serves to identify the decedent (e.g., identifying elements of an inscription are not legible, such as a decedent's name); or
(C) Has been stolen or vandalized; or
(D) Is the incorrect style or type for the veteran's era of service; or
(E) Requires changing or adding inscription information for the following reasons:
(1) The inscription is not preceded by the phrase “In Memory Of”; or
(2) To correct errors in factual information (such as name or date of birth or death) provided to VA as part of the initial application process; or
(3) To indicate information related to the deceased's military service that is provided to VA after the initial application process (such as the deceased's posthumous receipt of military awards); or
(4) To identify a spouse or dependent in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 2306(g)(2); or
(5) For any reason not listed in paragraphs (b)(3)(i)(E)(1) through (4) of this section, if the request to add or change inscription information is received from the decedent's next of kin as indicated in NCA's records systems, within six months of the headstone or marker initially being provided.
(ii) To the extent practicable, replacement memorial headstones and markers will be of the same style and type (to include inscription information) as those being replaced, except that style, type, or inscription content may differ for replacement headstones and markers if one of the criteria under paragraphs (b)(3)(i)(D) and (E) of this section is the reason for replacement.
(iii) Requests to replace Government-furnished memorial headstones and markers are made as follows:
(A) Through NCA's electronic ordering systems, when the headstone or marker to be replaced is located in a cemetery that uses NCA electronic ordering systems; or
(B) By completing and submitting VA Form 40–1330, when the headstone or marker to be replaced is located in a cemetery that does not use NCA's electronic ordering systems.
(4) Limitations. VA will not pay the cost of installing a memorial headstone or marker provided under this section for placement in any cemetery that is not a national cemetery but will deliver the headstone or marker directly to such cemetery or to a receiving agent for delivery to the cemetery.
(5) Ownership, alteration, and disposition.
(i) All Government-furnished memorial headstones and markers remain the property of the United States Government in perpetuity and should not be defaced or altered in any way. Knowingly converting Government property to private use (such as using whole or partial headstones or markers in structures or landscaping or offering such items for sale) is a violation of Federal law under 18 U.S.C. 641.
(ii) Under 38 CFR 1.218(b)(5), the destruction, mutilation, defacement, injury, or removal of any monument, gravestone, or other structure within the limits of any national cemetery is prohibited, with an associated fine of $500. Under 18 U.S.C. 1361, willful depredation of any property of the United States (i.e., a headstone or marker in a non-national cemetery) shall be punishable by a fine or imprisonment under title 18 of the United States Code.
(iii) When a Government-furnished memorial headstone or marker is removed from any cemetery (due to it warranting replacement under paragraph (b)(3) of this section), it should be properly disposed. Unless a memorial headstone or marker that has been removed from a cemetery would be maintained by NCA for historic purposes, such headstones and markers made of stone must be physically broken into small enough pieces to ensure no portion of the inscription is legible and to ensure no part is available for any private, personal, or commercial use, and those made of bronze must be returned to VA for recycling.
(c) Definitions—(1) Applicant. An applicant for a memorial headstone or marker, to commemorate an eligible individual under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, must be a member of the decedent's family, which includes the decedent's spouse or individual who was in a legal union as defined in 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(1)(ii) with the decedent; a child, parent, or sibling of the decedent, whether biological, adopted, or step relation; and any lineal or collateral descendant of the decedent.
(2) Unavailable remains. An individual's remains are considered unavailable if they:
(i) Have not been recovered or identified;
(ii) Were buried at sea, whether by the individual's own choice or otherwise;
(iii) Were donated to science; or
(iv) Were cremated and the ashes scattered without interment of any portion of the ashes.