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Virginia Veterans Cemetery
at Amelia
10300 Pridesville Road
Amelia, VA 23002

Telephone
804-561-1475
Fax 804-561-1455
 

 

Virginia State Veterans Cemetery


The State of Virginia Veterans Cemetery Program

This web page is provided as an informational source and guide for those interested in learning more about the Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia, its requirements and operations. The information is written in general terms and should not be regarded nor taken as law or official regulation. The official regulations governing the Virginia Veterans Cemetery is available from the Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs or the Cemetery Superintendent.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The following persons are eligible for interment at a Virginia State Veterans Cemetery:
Any member of the armed forces of the United States who dies on active duty, anyone retired from military service and any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or undesirable conditions.
Under certain conditions the following persons are eligible for interment:
Members of the reserve component of the Armed Forces, the Army National Guard or Air National Guard.
Members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy or Air Force.
Any citizen of the United States who served in the Armed Forces of any Government allied with the United States during wartime.
Any Commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Any Commissioned officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service.
American merchant seamen.
Anyone who dies while enroute to be inducted into the military service.

Virginia Resident
Only those veterans who are legal residents of Virginia at the time of death, or who were residents at the time they entered the Armed Forces of the United States are eligible for interment.

Dependent (s)
The legal spouse (or widow or widower) and/or an unmarried minor child under age 21 meets eligibility requirements. In addition, an unmarried adult child who, before the age of 21, became permanently incapable of self-support because of physical or mental disability may also be interred.

Legal Resident
A person whose principal residence or abode is in Virginia, who uses this state to establish his right to vote and other rights in this state, and who intends to live in this state, to the exclusion of maintaining a legal residence in any other state.

PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY
The burden of proof of eligibility for interment shall be the responsibility of the applicant, and cemetery management designee will determine the eligibility of a person for interment in the cemetery.
It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to furnish evidence, including documentary evidence, necessary to establish the eligibility of the veteran before interment of the veteran or eligible family members. Such evidence must clearly establish that the veteran received a discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States under other than dishonorable or undesirable conditions, and that the veteran meets the residency requirements.

Proof of Military Service
The best document used to verify military service is DD Form 214 or an equivalent (Report of Separation from Active Duty). This document is given to the veteran upon discharge from active duty.
Other forms of proof are items such as copies of military orders, identification (ID or "dog") tags, ID cards or any official correspondence that contains the service member's name and military service number. If records are lost, the cemetery superintendent will assist in obtaining replacement copies of key documents.

Virginia Residency
* Verification of residence at time of entry into military service is documented on DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from active duty and on draft board records.
* The residence requirement can be verified by tax records, utility bills, hospital records, records of recognized veteran fraternal, or civic organizations, driver's license and official records from U.S. government, state or municipality agencies.
* Other acceptable documents are voting records, employment and education records.

Dependents
The primary source for verification of a spouse is a marriage certificate. Dependent children may be verified by a birth certificate or other legal documents such as adoption papers, divorce degrees or certified affidavits.
Proof of Disability of an Adult Dependent
A letter is required from the dependent's physician certifying the dependent became permanently incapable of self-support because of a physical or mental disability before attaining the age of twenty-one (21) years. Medical records and other documents will be considered only as supporting or corroborating documents.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Assignment of Space
* Only one grave site is normally authorized for a qualified veteran and his eligible family members.
* A grave site may not be reserved until the death of a person who is eligible for interment. However a grave site shall be assigned once death certificates are presented and pre-application eligibility is confirmed.
* When an eligible family member dies before the qualified veteran dies, the veteran must sign an agreement to be interred in the same grave plot before the deceased family member can be interred in the veterans cemetery.

Veterans Cemetery Operations and Services
* There is no charge for the grave site or necessary interment services for a qualified veteran at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery. The state will furnish a grave site, open and close the grave for the veteran, order and place a government grave marker and furnish perpetual care of the grave site without charge.
* Cemetery management is responsible for making application with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the plot or interment allowance provided to a state for expenses incurred by the state in the burial of eligible veterans in a cemetery owned or operated by such state. (Currently $150.00)
* For interment of eligible family members, the state shall receive from the dependent's survivor/legal representative/ administrator or executor of the estate, the sum equivalent to the amount of the plot allowance. All other charges in connection with any funeral or burial in the cemetery shall not be at the expense of the state.
* A concrete vault or liner is required for burial in a state veterans cemetery. All expenses related to the purchase and placement of the vault or liner shall be paid for by the veteran, family survivors or estate.
* Committal services are normally held in the chapel. Family members may return to the grave site after the burial of the casket or urn is completed and the area is cleared of all equipment and materials. Requests for a graveside committal service must be made by a member of the immediate family and must be approved by the cemetery superintendent. Additional expenses of a graveside service are the responsibility of the veteran, family survivors or estate.
* Only government furnished grave markers or headstones will be authorized for use in the state veterans cemeteries.
* All arrangements for burial at a state veterans cemetery shall be made through a funeral home (of the veteran's or family's choice). All funeral expenses are the sole responsibility of the veteran, family survivors or estate.
* The state shall not be responsible for any costs resulting from damage to, destruction or theft of a grave site, grave marker or any other grave monument on the cemetery grounds.
* The cemetery staff is available to assist the veteran, family or legal representative in the processing of applications for the headstone, flags or authorized DVA plot allowances.
* Cemetery staff will maintain the cemetery grounds to include grave sites and grave markers.

Provisions for Pre-Application
* For expediency, the veteran may apply prior to death to determine eligibility for interment in the cemetery. The veteran shall submit to the cemetery management documentation of military service and character of discharge and proof of residence. At that time, the veteran may also inform management of any family members eligible for interment. Cemetery management shall notify the veteran regarding eligibility findings and if approved establish a file in the veteran's name indicating pre-approval of eligibility.

Public Rights to the Cemetery
The cemetery will be open to the public each day of the week from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The administrative offices of the cemetery will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Floral Tributes and Flags
Permanent in ground flower containers, approved by the Superintendent, may be accepted for installation on graves provided they are purchased and delivered to the cemetery at no cost to the state. All permanent containers will be installed by cemetery personnel to ensure uniformity throughout the cemetery, and shall not be removed without the consent of the containers owner.
Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time either in the inground container or in a metal container. Glass containers will not be permitted. Artificial flowers, plants, shrubs and wreaths are prohibited.
Holiday wreaths are permitted during the Christmas season from December 1 through January 12 and ten days before and ten days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day. Wreaths will be disposed of by cemetery personnel at the expiration of the permissible periods or when the wreaths become unsightly.
Flags are permitted on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Virginia Department of Veterans' Affairs
The Virginia State Veterans Cemetery comes under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Department of Veterans' Affairs located in Roanoke, VA.
Virginia Department of Veterans' Affairs
270 Franklin Road, SW, Room 503
Poff Federal Building
Roanoke, VA 24011-2215
Telephone 540-857-7104
Fax 540-857-7573

This information is based on the public domain brochure, provided by the
Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Amelia. (804)-561-1475

info@carlueggleston.com



    Published November 2004

Copyright © 2004

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