Types of Veteran Headstones and Grave Markers

Every type of veteran headstone and grave marker furnished by the federal government, the V.A., and the National Cemetery Administration is shown here in chronological order dating back to 1873. The first veteran grave markers were made of wood. Realizing the need for a durable, long-lasting, grave marker as National Cemeteries were being filled with hundreds of thousands of Union Soldiers, the first marble veteran headstone was designed and approved in 1873. Over time, the design evolved and new types of veteran headstones and grave markers were introduced including marble, Confederate, granite, flat ground level, and bronze. This video produced by Trae Zipperer to encourage patriotic Americans to clean every veteran headstone in America by Memorial Day will help you recognize veteran headstones and grave markers in cemeteries you visit. For more information about how to clean and maintain government-furnished veteran headstones and grave markers, go to ByMemorialDay.com and click on the link to the VA.gov website where the protocol for cleaning veteran headstones in private and municipal cemeteries has been posted by the National Cemetery Administration.