VA Adds Nearly 2 Million Records to Online Gravesite Locator

WASHINGTON (December 22, 2005) - The burial locations of more than 5 million

veterans for whom the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has provided grave

markers are now available on the Internet, as well as the information

inscribed on the markers.

Online since April 2004, the nationwide gravesite locator

http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/ helps veterans' families, former

comrades-in-arms and others find the graves of veterans.

VA recently added 1.9 million records for veterans buried primarily in

private cemeteries to its database. The gravesite locator previously

carried records on 3 million veterans buried in VA national cemeteries since

the Civil War, and in state veterans cemeteries and Arlington National

Cemetery since 1999.

"The expansion of this innovative program continues VA's commitment to using

Internet technology to fulfill the important mission of memorializing our

nation's veterans," said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of

Veterans Affairs. "By adding records to our online database, VA also helps

families research their genealogy and ensures that future generations of

Americans will be able to honor these veterans for their service."

The new records date from January 1997, the earliest time for which

electronic records exist. The information comes from applications made for

these veterans' headstones or markers. Beyond the 5 million records now

available, VA continues to add approximately 1,000 new records to the

database each day.

Last year, VA furnished nearly 369,000 inscribed headstones and markers for

veterans' graves worldwide.

Internet users only need to provide the last name of the deceased veteran or

dependent. Typically, the information available includes name, birth and

death dates, rank, branch of service and the address and phone number of the

cemetery.

Veterans whose discharges are other than dishonorable, their spouses and

dependent children may be buried in a national cemetery, regardless of where

they live. No advance reservations are made. VA provides perpetual care,

as well as a headstone or marker, a burial flag and a memorial certificate

to survivors.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery

offices, from a VA Web site at http://www.cem.va.gov/ or by

calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.