National Cemetery Administration

Leadership

Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs

The Honorable Samuel B. Brown was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the Senate on July 30, 2025, to serve as the 8th Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In this role he oversees the operation and maintenance of 156 VA national cemeteries and the delivery of memorial products such as headstones, markers, medallions and Presidential Memorial Certificates. He also administers the federal grant program supporting the establishment and expansion of Veterans cemeteries managed by states, territories, and tribal governments. His responsibilities further include programs that honor and preserve the memory of Veterans through the Veterans Legacy Program and Veterans Legacy Memorial.

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Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs

Ronald E. Walters was appointed Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs in January 2009. He served as Acting and Interim Under Secretary from June 2024 to July 2025, and previously held the same role from June 2014 to December 2017. Mr. Walters helps lead 156 national cemeteries in delivering dignified burial services for military Veterans and their eligible family members.

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About NCA

Eligible service members and Veterans have earned VA burial and memorial benefits for themselves, their spouses, and qualifying family members. Whether you choose burial in a VA national cemetery, a VA grant-funded cemetery, or a private cemetery your family has used for generations, these benefits play an essential role in your end-of-life planning.

A service member or Veteran's spouse, widow or widower, minor children, and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities, may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the service member or Veteran.

Learn about the benefits earned, who is eligible, how to apply, and contact for assistance if needed at: https://www.cem.va.gov/burial-memorial-benefits/

VA provides the gravesite, grave liner, opening and closing of the grave, government headstone or marker, U.S. burial flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate, and perpetual care of the gravesite at no cost to the family.

VA operates 156 national cemeteries and 35 soldiers' lots and monument sites in 42 states and Puerto Rico. More than 4 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's national cemeteries. VA also provides funding to establish, expand, improve and maintain 124 Veterans cemeteries in 46 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Saipan. For Veterans not buried in a VA national cemetery, VA provides headstones, markers, or medallions to commemorate their service. Nearly 5.3 million people — including 4 million Veterans from the Revolutionary War to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan — are honored with a burial in a VA national cemetery.

Learn facts about the National Cemetery Administration

Information on VA burial benefits is available by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000.

To make burial arrangements at any open VA national cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.

Mission, Vision & Purpose

Mission: NCA honors eligible Veterans, active-duty Service Members and eligible family members with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our Nation.

Vision: To be the model of excellence for burial and memorials for our Nation's Veterans and their families.

NCA Purpose
- To provide burial space for Veterans and their eligible family members.
- To maintain national cemeteries as national shrines, sacred to the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized there.
- To mark Veterans' graves with a Government-furnished headstone, marker or medallion and to provide Presidential Memorial Certificates in recognition of their service to a grateful nation.
- To administer grants for establishing or expanding state and tribal government veterans cemeteries.

Customer Service Standards: Our Commitment to You

We will strive to provide service that meets or exceeds the following standards:

Courtesy
We will treat you with respect, dignity and compassion every time you interact with any National Cemetery Administration employee.

Access
We will provide gravesite locator assistance that is accessible, current and accurate at each national cemetery.
We will provide a toll-free telephone line for you to make inquiries about headstone and marker orders. Your call will be answered by a Customer Service Representative within three minutes.

Prompt Delivery of Service and Benefits
We will confirm eligibility and schedule your committal service within two hours of the request.
We will set headstones and markers at national cemeteries within 60 days of interment.
We will deliver headstones and markers to recipients other than national cemeteries within 60 days of receipt of your application.
We will mail Presidential Memorial Certificates to families of eligible Veterans within 45 days of the Veterans' death information being reported to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Accuracy - Doing it Right
We will provide a headstone or marker that is correctly inscribed.
We will replace a headstone or marker that is damaged or incorrectly inscribed within 30 days of notification.
We will replace a Presidential Memorial Certificate that is incorrectly inscribed within 20 days of notification.

Appearance
We will maintain the appearance of VA's national cemeteries in a manner befitting a national shrine.

Effective Outreach
We will seek every opportunity to provide you with accurate and timely information about burial benefits and services.