A veterans cemetery is a burial ground set aside for people who served in the US armed forces, and in most cases their eligible spouses and dependents. The term covers several different kinds of cemeteries: national cemeteries run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, state veterans cemeteries run by individual states, and a small number of cemeteries run by the military services themselves. What they share is a purpose: honoring service with a dignified, well kept resting place, usually at little or no cost to the family.
Knowing which type you are dealing with matters, because each has its own eligibility rules and way of arranging burials.
The main types of veterans cemeteries
| Type | Run by | Who is eligible | Cost to family |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA national cemetery | VA National Cemetery Administration | Eligible veterans, service members, spouses and dependents nationwide | Gravesite and core burial services at no cost |
| State veterans cemetery | A state (built or expanded with VA grants) | Similar to national cemeteries, often with state residency or service rules | Usually no cost for the veteran; a modest fee may apply for spouses or dependents |
| Army national cemeteries | Department of the Army | Stricter rules, especially at Arlington National Cemetery | No cost for eligible individuals |
| Post and base cemeteries | Individual military installations | Often limited to those who served or lived on the installation | Varies |
| Veterans sections in other cemeteries | Private, municipal or church cemeteries | Veterans and sometimes spouses who buy or are given space there | Varies; some sections are discounted or free |
| Overseas military cemeteries | American Battle Monuments Commission | Primarily war dead from the World Wars and other conflicts; generally closed to new burials | Not applicable |
You can browse all of these in our veterans cemeteries, national cemeteries and military cemeteries listings.
VA national cemeteries
The VA National Cemetery Administration operates more than 150 national cemeteries across the country and in Puerto Rico, along with a number of soldiers' lots and monument sites. Many date to the Civil War, when the federal government began creating cemeteries for Union dead, and the system has grown steadily since.
For an eligible veteran, a national cemetery typically provides the following at no cost:
- A gravesite, or a space in a columbarium or in-ground cremation section
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A grave liner for casketed burials
- A government headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
- A burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate for the family
Spouses and eligible dependents can usually be buried in the same gravesite as the veteran, even if they die first. The family generally remains responsible for funeral home costs such as the casket, transportation and preparation.
Burials are arranged through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, usually by the funeral director. Gravesites are assigned by the cemetery; families generally cannot reserve a specific spot in advance. For eligibility details, see who qualifies for burial in a national cemetery.
Some national cemeteries are closed to new casket burials because they are full, but many still accept cremated remains or burials of family members in existing gravesites.
State veterans cemeteries
State veterans cemeteries fill gaps where a national cemetery would be too far away. They are owned and operated by the state, but many were built, expanded or improved with grants from the VA's Veterans Cemetery Grants Program. Some tribal veterans cemeteries have been funded the same way.
Eligibility is usually similar to national cemeteries, but states can add their own requirements, most often:
- Residency in the state at the time of death or at entry into service
- Service credited to that state
- Specific rules or fees for spouses and dependents
Because the rules differ, check with the state's department of veterans affairs or the cemetery directly. Pages like /texas/veterans-cemeteries/, /california/veterans-cemeteries/ and /florida/veterans-cemeteries/ list both national and state options in those states.
Arlington and other Army cemeteries
Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is the best known military cemetery in the country, but it is not part of the VA system. It is run by the Department of the Army and has its own, more limited eligibility rules because space is scarce. Many veterans who qualify for any VA national cemetery do not qualify for in-ground burial at Arlington, though eligibility for above-ground inurnment of cremated remains is somewhat broader. The Army also runs the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery in Washington, DC. You can find these and other cemeteries on our /virginia/national-cemeteries/ page.
Veterans sections in private and municipal cemeteries
Many ordinary cemeteries have a veterans section, sometimes called a "Field of Honor" or "Garden of Valor." These are not veterans cemeteries in the legal sense. The cemetery sets its own prices and rules, although some offer discounts or donated space to veterans.
Veterans buried in any cemetery, private or public, may still be entitled to:
- A free government headstone or marker, or a medallion to attach to a private headstone
- A burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Military funeral honors, typically including the folding and presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps
- Possible VA burial allowances, depending on circumstances
So a family that prefers a hometown cemetery does not give up all veterans' benefits by choosing it.
What visiting a veterans cemetery is like
National and state veterans cemeteries share a recognizable look: uniform white upright headstones or flat markers in precise rows, carefully maintained lawns, flags at the entrance and memorial features such as a rostrum or committal shelters. Committal services are usually held at a shelter rather than at the grave, and the burial itself follows shortly after.
Most are open to the public daily. Many hold public ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and volunteer groups often place flags or wreaths on graves around those holidays. Our guide on what you can leave at a grave explains which decorations these cemeteries typically allow.