John Winn
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2014
- Location
- State of Jefferson
I thought I'd pass along this notice from another site:
"On October 1, 2014 the VA issued a proposed rule document in the Federal Register,
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=VA-2014-VACO-0020-0001
It is open for public comment until December 1, 2014. I strongly urge everyone to read it and the comments already posted, and then post your own.
Prior to May 2012 anyone with knowledge of a deceased veteran could apply for a headstone or grave marker. But since then the VA has restricted applications to the next of kin or a representative authorized in writing. This has effectively halted the efforts of the many groups and individuals seeking to mark the graves of forgotten veterans. The very fact that a grave is unmarked shows that there is a problem. The veteran may not have a living next of kin, or one aware of the death or place of burial, or one who cared enough to act. Two bills have been introduced in Congress (H.R. 2018 and S. 2700) which would restore, with some modification, the "anyone" rule.
The VA has opposed these bills claiming the routine regulatory rule-making process is superior. The result is the creation of two new categories of veterans and several new narrowly defined categories of applicants. For veterans who served before April 6, 1917 (US entry into WWI) any individual may once again apply. But for those who served after this date (WWI and later) the applicant must be a family member, a representative of a Congressionally-chartered Veterans Service Organization, or someone legally responsible for the disposition of the unclaimed remains of the decedent or for other matters relating to the interment or memorialization of the decedent. Additionally, if there are no remains available for burial only a family member may ever apply for a memorial."
"On October 1, 2014 the VA issued a proposed rule document in the Federal Register,
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=VA-2014-VACO-0020-0001
It is open for public comment until December 1, 2014. I strongly urge everyone to read it and the comments already posted, and then post your own.
Prior to May 2012 anyone with knowledge of a deceased veteran could apply for a headstone or grave marker. But since then the VA has restricted applications to the next of kin or a representative authorized in writing. This has effectively halted the efforts of the many groups and individuals seeking to mark the graves of forgotten veterans. The very fact that a grave is unmarked shows that there is a problem. The veteran may not have a living next of kin, or one aware of the death or place of burial, or one who cared enough to act. Two bills have been introduced in Congress (H.R. 2018 and S. 2700) which would restore, with some modification, the "anyone" rule.
The VA has opposed these bills claiming the routine regulatory rule-making process is superior. The result is the creation of two new categories of veterans and several new narrowly defined categories of applicants. For veterans who served before April 6, 1917 (US entry into WWI) any individual may once again apply. But for those who served after this date (WWI and later) the applicant must be a family member, a representative of a Congressionally-chartered Veterans Service Organization, or someone legally responsible for the disposition of the unclaimed remains of the decedent or for other matters relating to the interment or memorialization of the decedent. Additionally, if there are no remains available for burial only a family member may ever apply for a memorial."
Bringing the