Article 4

On December 27, 2001, President Bush signed Public Law 107-103, the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion

Act of 2001.

VA will furnish upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the grave of any

deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world. For all deaths occurring before December 27, 2001, the

VA may provide a headstone or marker only for graves that are not marked with a private headstone.

VA will furnish an appropriate marker for the graves of eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries, whose deaths occur

on or after December 27, 2001, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a non-government marker.

VA is now accepting applications for markers under the provisions of Public Law 107-103. VA Form 40-1330, Application

for Standard Government Headstone of Marker for Installation in a Private or State Veterans’ Cemetery, must be submitted

by the next of kin, funeral director or cemetery representative, along with a copy of the veteran’s military discharge

documents, to request a Government-provided headstone or marker. Do not send original documents, as they will not be

returned. Until this form is revised, applicants should ignore references to “unmarked graves” and should note

in Box 27, Remarks that this will be a second marker to mark a veteran’s gravesite.

NOTE: Two special styles of upright headstones are available for Civil War era veterans - one for those who served with

the Union Forces and another for those who served with the Confederate Forces. Requests for these special styles

should be made in block 27 of the application. It is necessary to submit detailed documentation that supports eligibility.

To see pictures of the markers and headstones that are available (except the Civil War memorials), Click Here.