All headstones and markers must include:

• The person’s legal name
• The Veteran’s service branch
• The beginning and ending years of the person’s life
• The section and grave number (if in a state or national cemetery)

You can also choose to inscribe:

• The full beginning and ending dates of the person’s life
• The highest rank the Veteran attained
• The Veteran’s awards and war service
• An emblem of belief

We may approve other requests, such as:

• Nicknames
• Terms of endearment (like “Loving Father”)
• Special unit identification

The person’s next of kin, or an authorized representative (like a funeral home director) must provide this information to cemetery officials at a national cemetery, state Veterans cemetery, military post cemetery, or military base cemetery. These officials will order the headstone or marker for you.