{"id":4086,"date":"2013-07-12T15:15:22","date_gmt":"2013-07-12T15:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=4086"},"modified":"2013-07-12T15:15:22","modified_gmt":"2013-07-12T15:15:22","slug":"effort-to-mark-1200-unmarked-civil-war-veterans-graves-hits-snag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/effort-to-mark-1200-unmarked-civil-war-veterans-graves-hits-snag.html","title":{"rendered":"Effort to Mark 1,200 Unmarked Civil War Veterans\u2019 Graves Hits Snag"},"content":{"rendered":"

American volunteers are out in cemeteries across the country, working to document the lives of bygone generations whose graves were not permanently marked with a tombstone. When these dedicated good Samaritans identify a veteran, the volunteers often request a headstone from the National Cemetery Administration<\/a> which is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs.<\/p>\n

Per the Department\u2019s instructions: \u201cThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"illustration<\/a>
Credit: Department of Veterans Affairs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are multiple styles of markers and tombstones that can be selected. These can be personalized with a symbol reflecting the veteran\u2019s religious faith.<\/p>\n

\"illustration<\/a>
Credit: Department of Veterans Affairs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, has been using this VA program to place tombstones on the unmarked graves of Civil War veterans. As a team of volunteers documents each vet, they request a headstone to honor his service in the American Civil War.<\/p>\n

Watch a New York Times<\/em> video report about the volunteer effort to mark these Civil War graves:<\/p>\n