National Cemetery Administration

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for honoring our nation’s veterans with final resting places that reflect the dignity of their service. Originally established in 1862 as part of the U.S. Army to care for Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, it became part of the VA in 1973 and has since expanded its mission to include veterans of all U.S. conflicts.

Today, the NCA maintains more than 150 national cemeteries across the country and provides critical support to veterans' families—including headstones, markers, burial flags, and Presidential Memorial Certificates. The NCA also supports community and tribal cemeteries through grants and guidance, ensuring veterans are honored with lasting recognition wherever they rest.

To assist communities with veterans buried in local cemeteries, the NCA created a comprehensive guide “Toolkit” designed for families, communities, cemetery administrators, parishes, and nonprofits. This guide outlines the proper care and maintenance of government-issued grave markers and offers best practices for preserving veterans' gravesites in non-federal cemeteries. While the NCA is legally prohibited from providing direct funding or personnel for the upkeep of community cemeteries, the guide also highlights outside organizations and resources that may be able to offer support.

Veterans Legacy Memorial: Honoring Every Veteran

The Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) is an online platform created by the National Cemetery Administration to honor U.S. veterans with lasting digital tributes. While it began with veterans buried in VA national cemeteries, it now includes many buried in community, state, and private cemeteries—especially those who received a government-issued grave marker or medallion.

However, the VLM is still a work in progress. Veterans with older or privately marked graves may not be included, as the VA only began systematically recording these burials in the mid-1990s. The NCA is working to expand the database, but without public help, many veterans’ resting places may remain unknown.

Families and volunteers can play a vital role by helping identify veterans in local cemeteries and, where appropriate, applying for a VA marker or medallion (VA Form 40‑1330M), which also helps ensure they are added to the VLM.

To learn more, explore the NCA’s official website at www.cem.va.gov, and visit the VLM at www.va.gov/remember.