I read an interesting article yesterday and learned something – after 35 years in the funeral business – that I did not know about our veterans and the cemeteries that they are buried in.  I have always been aware of the Veteran’s Administration and the National Cemeteries that they controlled and operated.  Yesterday, I learned that our National Park Service also has cemeteries under its control and our veterans are eligible for burial in them as well.

I learned of this when I noticed this article pertaining to a veteran’s benefit for burial vaults that you can read here.  At first I thought the article was a little off because all of the veterans and dependents that I have buried at our Minnesota Fort Snelling National Veterans Cemetery did receive free vaults.  When I noticed this article pertaining to free vaults I was a little confused.

Turns out that U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee was speaking on behalf of the “Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act” which will allow burial vaults to be paid for by the U.S. Department of Interior at all cemeteries operated by the National Parks Department.  I was not aware of the cemeteries under the National Parks Service jurisdiction.  You can find a list and some interesting information on them here.

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