June 99
Narrative
Mission and Background
The mission of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is four-
fold: to provide burial space for veterans and operate and maintain the 114
Department of Veterans Affairs national cemeteries as national shrines; to
provide headstones and markers for the graves of veterans; to provide
Presidential Memorial Certificates; and to administer the State Cemetery
Grants Program assisting states to build or improve state-owned
cemeteries for veterans.
President Lincoln, on July 17, 1862, signed legislation which
authorized the creation of 14 national cemeteries, "...for the soldiers who
shall die in the service of the country." These cemeteries were the
beginning of what is known as the National Cemetery Administration.
From 1862 to 1973, these cemeteries were operated by the Department
of the Army. Today, the NCA of the Department of Veterans Affairs
oversees 114 national cemeteries in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Many national cemeteries no longer have gravesites available for the
burial of casketed remains. These cemeteries limit burials to the spouse
or eligible children of a family member already buried in the cemetery.
Most of these cemeteries also perform interments of cremated remains in
the ground or in columbarium niches.
Operational Aspects
Each national cemetery is managed by VA National Cemetery
Administration (NCA) personnel in conformance with national and area
office policies, priorities, goals, and objectives. At most cemeteries there
is a staff of administrative and maintenance personnel, under the
supervision of a cemetery director.
National cemeteries commonly open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
and on Memorial Day from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Generally, funeral
corteges are received from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Burials at national cemeteries do not normally occur on weekends or
Federal holidays.
Unlike most private cemeteries, many national cemeteries are
remotely located from the people they serve, requiring funeral corteges to
travel long distances to the interment services. Away-from-gravesite
VA Design Guide -- National Cemetery Administration
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