New Headstone Device for Military Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently designing a medallion to be affixed to an existing, privately purchased headstone or marker to signify the deceased's status as a veteran.

If requested, this new product will be furnished in lieu of a traditional Government headstone or marker to those veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

It is estimated that this new medallion will be available before the end of calendar year 2009. Claims will begin to be accepted at that time.

Note: This benefit is only applicable if the grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. In these instances, eligible veterans are entitled to either a traditional Government- furnished headstone or marker, or the new medallion, but not both.

For complete details and for updated information regarding the new medalion, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.cem.va.gov/hm/hmtype.asp>