Interments in national cemeteries

6,401 38,632

6,997 37,776

8.5 + 2.3

SUMMARY

The National Cemetery System consists of 104 national cemeteries containing 5,160 acres of cemetery land of which 2,682 acres were developed for burials as of June 30, 1976. Grave space was available in 56 of the cemeteries. Efforts continued to be directed towards the provision of additional gravesites to accommodate the future needs of the veteran population. Five new national cemetery sites were selected during the year.

The highlight of the year was the dedication of the site for the new VA National Cemetery at Riverside, California.

Interments for the year totalled 38,632, a 2.3 percent increase over FY 1975. A total of 267,681 applications were received for headstones and markers. This represents a 4.5 percent increase over FY 1975.

As a part of the Bicentennial year activities, a program was conducted to memorialize deceased Medal of Honor recipients with a special headstone or marker. Also, a program was initiated to plant a tree in each of the national cemeteries to honor this special year. An appropriate plaque was designed to identify these trees as commemorating the Bicentennial.

Memorial Day activities were conducted in most national cemeteries, with programs planned by local veterans and citizens groups. The holiday was an occasion for tribute to all veterans, and also

for special ceremonies such as the dedication of new headstones for the graves of Medal of Honor recipients.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CEMETERIES AND MEMORIALS

The 11-member Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials met three times during the year. Most of their time was spent on reviewing new cemetery sites and considering the policies and procedures to be specified for the new cemeteries. The Committee reviewed the past policy of establishing cemeteries on a regional concept. After much deliberation, the Committee passed a resolution recommending that new cemeteries be established on "where-the-need-isgreatest" basis.

A series of objectives in Master Planning for cemeteries was approved by the Committee. These objectives will provide for an orderly development of the cemeteries and assure that the proper facilities are provided.

NATIONAL CEMETERIES

New Cemeteries

By the end of the fiscal year, five sites had been announced for new national cemeteries. These are: March Air Force Base, Riverside, California Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania Quantico Marine Corps Base, Virginia Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Calverton, New York

The site at Riverside, California was dedicated as a national cemetery on June 27, 1976, and officially named the Veterans Administration National Cemetery, Riverside, California.

Construction has begun at the Riverside site

Headstones and markers are furnished by the National Cemetery System for the graves of deceased veterans and members of the Armed Forces interred in private cemeteries. They are also provided for all graves not marked with a private monument in national cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the Veterans Administration, and all national and post cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Interior. During FY 1976, 229,331 headstones and markers were ordered from twelve contractors on behalf of eligible decedents at a cost of $9.3 million. Of these, 82 percent were for private cemeteries, and the remaining 18 percent for government cemeteries. Included in the above number are 400 memorial headstones/markers for non-recoverable decedents.

Medal of Honor Recipients

As part of the VA's Bicentennial program, the Administrator approved a project to identify and memorialize deceased Medal of Honor recipients with a special headstone or marker. It was a requirement that the replacement be approved by the next of kin. The standard headstones and markers were used, but with a few distinctive changes. An enlarged replica of the Medal of Honor of the awarding service was incised in the stone or cast on the bronze, and the words "Medal of Honor" added to the standard inscription. The inscription and emblem were highlighted with gold leaf on marble and granite monuments. The finishing process used on bronze markers automatically highlights the emblem and inscription. Designs for the monuments were developed in consultation with the Administrator's Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and with advice from the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.

Replacements of previously furnished government headstones and markers for Medal of Honor recipients interred in national cemeteries were made prior to Memorial Day. Replacement of headstones and markers in private cemeteries is an on-going project with applications still being received regularly.

Appropriate ceremonies dedicating the headstones and markers were conducted at all cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the VA. The ceremonies ranged from a simple private family affair to large public ceremonies, including local civic, veterans and patriotic organizations.

Three hundred and seventeen Medal of Honor recipients have been honored under this program. Of this total, 106 are buried in national ceme

teries, 123 are in Arlington National Cemetery, and one in the Post Cemetery at Fort Benning, Georgia. Eighty-seven Medal of Honor recipients buried in private cemeteries were also honored with a replacement headstone or marker.

Transportation

During the year a total of 211,930 headstones and markers were shipped from various contractors to destinations throughout the world.

Due to VA's continuous effort to expedite delivery of the headstones and markers, all marble and granite contractors have put into effect the use of the Commercial Bill of Lading for shipments of single units. Multiple shipments are still being moved by Government Bill of Lading. A total of 95,851 bronze markers were mailed parcel post.

The accompanying table reflects a total of 2,781 more commercial shipments made in FY 1976 than in FY 1975.

The use of the Commercial Bill of Lading is considered a great improvement in expediting the movement of the headstones and markers. Improved cooperation and coordination between the carrier and traffic personnel of the VA have also contributed to more expeditious delivery of the headstones and markers.

Prior to a year ago, 30 days were allowed to complete delivery of a shipment. Today, a shipment can be moved anywhere in the continental United States within 10 days with few exceptions. Because of the reduction of time in transit, inquiries relative to delay of shipment have been brought to a virtual halt.

Congress appropriated $19.3 billion to fund the VA and its programs for FY 1976, almost $3 billion more than the record appropriation of the previous year. This amounted to an 18.4 percent increase over FY 1975. Since FY 1970 VA appropriations have increased over 127 percent. Appropriations for readjustment benefits alone have increased more than five-fold in that time.

The growth of the readjustment benefits appropriation has been caused both by rate increases, and by larger enrollments in the various education programs. For example, the monthly payment to a single veteran training full-time under the GI Bill increased from $130 in FY 1970 to $270 in FY 1976, with proportionate increases for married veterans. Over the same period total enrollments in

education and training programs increased from 1,287,650 in FY 1970 to 2,950,700 in FY 1976. The readjustment benefits appropriation for FY 1976 increased more than $1.46 billion, or 32.2 percent over FY 1975.

The medical care appropriation showed an increase of more than $536 million, or 16.2 percent over FY 1975. This increase provided for staffing improvement, new specialized medical services, higher workloads, and the increasing cost of medical supplies and utilities.

Out of the FY 1976 appropriation dollar, 73.9 cents was used for direct benefit programs such as compensation and pension and readjustment benefits. Another 21.5 cents was spent on medical care, medical and prosthetic research, and related programs. The remaining 4.6 cents was divided between the construction programs and general operating expenses.