In November 2024, VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) officially opened Green Burial sections at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona, and Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. The number of green burial sites at each cemetery are 152, 155 and 222, respectively.
Green burials are a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact, which aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.
In 2014, NCA conducted a nationwide survey asking Veterans’ interest in burial and memorial options not then offered at national cemeteries. Forty-one percent of respondents agreed that VA should offer an environmentally friendly burial option, including 48% of Veteran respondents between the ages of 18 and 39. In addition, 75% of Veterans interviewed agreed that burial in a defined, naturalistic section in a national cemetery would be acceptable and dignified.
In 2022, Congress authorized VA to establish green burial sections through the National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act. The law provides that remains interred in a green burial section must be prepared for burial in a manner that does not involve chemicals or embalming fluids, and require the use of non-toxic and biodegradable materials, such as caskets, shrouds and urns.
“NCA is pleased to begin offering this new option to Veterans and their family members eligible for interment in a VA national cemetery,” said Ronald E. Walters, VA’s acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs. “It reflects our commitment to understand and address the emerging burial preferences of Veterans and their loved ones.”
NCA will accept both cremated and intact remains for interment in green burial sections. While green burial sections are new, NCA has always accepted remains that are prepared naturally and/or presented in a biodegradable container for burial in VA national cemeteries, and it will continue to do so at its open cemeteries even if they are not one of the three pilot sites.
For information about VA burial benefits, visit the NCA website at www.cem.va.gov, or call toll free at 800-827-1000. For advance burial planning for you and your family, visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website.
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Beginning on Nov. 9, 2024, VA will accept applications for payment of a monetary allowance for privately purchased OBRs and for OBRs provided by a grant-funded cemetery, when the OBR is placed at the time of interment. This allowance may be paid for burials that occurred on or after the effective date of the new authority which is Jan. 5, 2023.
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My husband is already buried in a V A cemetery can I still be buried in same grave if I choose a green burial?
Thank-you for your service to your country when you are alive. Thank-you again for your service when you are dead. your bodies become nutritious food for trees. Welcome! to ” Green Burial”
If I pass in kansas who pays for transport to burial site
I hope that this “green burial” option will prove to be popular enough to warrant availability at more cemeteries for veterans throughout the United States.
I appreciate the government listening to us about alternative burial. This means a lot to me. Will a spouse be allowed to be buried with a qualified military member?
Great idea. I have been hoping this type of burial would become more widely available and accepted.
I question the percentages used as reference by the author. I question why she accepted that data so willingly and without due diligence.
“What becomes accepted becomes expected.” Your beloved “Program” sounds like just another “Let them eat insects” cultural prompting using one of your writers as a vehicle for “change”. Put this in the circular file along with Bovine Flatulence. I’m still waiting for the sea to rise. Please email me when it begins.
Will va pay for Cremation?
Will VA pay for cremation?
I’m about to go to sleep yet still managed to read this comment. I think it’s a good idea.
I served on the first crew of USS Sanctuary AH 17 period 1967. Our priest once said that death know no age, but it knows time and a place- just be ready y rate was MM 3 / M Division.
I’ve already paid my cremation expense. Is there a payment due me fron VA?
excellent! need one in the pacific northwest.
Also, please visit our site for FAQs at https://www.cem.va.gov/green-burial/index.asp
I’m going to Disney World!
This is great! I’ll keep an eye out for options in northern California :)
Not related to this type of burial but maybe someone can help what is it called when donate you body to science?And how do you make arrangements for that?
Google how to sign up to be an organ donor. There’s an option on the document you carry in your purse or wallet for Donate my Body to Science. And you let your loved ones know sleep. Very important.
I’m so glad to see that green burials are becoming an option. Please expand this option to include the rest of the VA cemeteries!
JUST DIG A HOLE, PLACE VETERAN IN DUG HOLE AND COVER WITH DIRT FROM DUG HOLE. ECO FRIENDLY :)
How about a green burial sit in the Northeast. Like Vermont
This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of. This is what your worrying about? not WW3? What about the carbon footprint of all the weapons we send to Ukraine or the weapons we send to Israel, nope, were worried about the carbon footprint of dead veterans, but i cant get approval for medical help or compensation for the chemicals you exposed me to when you sent me to war; and I have documents from your scientists that did site studies, and your Army explaining why there needs to be compensation and medical help for any American that was stationed there. BUT NO, Decomposing Veterans buried underground is where you draw the line. This is whats important to you??????. Yet you wonder why all veterans hate you…THIS IS WHY! Find another hill to stand on. F-CKING MORONS! This is why we voted for Donald Trump again. I really hope you all get fired, because you deserve to for being gigantic imbeciles. mean while me, a war vet, struggles just to eat every day. F-CK YOU!!!!
Hey Jo, I think you just made it on some list! Calm down. I’m wondering if you know a man that died for us? Please consider accepting Jesus and it will change your outlook on everything. I wish you happier days.
You’re really fired up at 9am on a Thursday. I’m gonna rot in a cardboard box with Tims on my feet and no stone over my head, because I don’t want you to refer to me. Seek god.
I think that is a great option for the current Veterans and future Veterans and their spouses. As well as ecology of our country.
I have a plot with my va husband in Bushnell Florida. You mentioned you have always accepted remains in biodegradable containers. I hadn’t heard of these. Where could I get one? Would it still go into my allotted space next to my cremated husband? Thank you.
Check with funeral homes.
Hello, please see our FAQS at https://www.cem.va.gov/green-burial/index.asp
What is different about a green burial. If it is a simple pine box I am very interested. But without any description I cannot make a choice.
Hello Mr. Frizt,
thank you for your comment. Please read our FAQS on our website at https://www.cem.va.gov/green-burial/index.asp
Green Burial would be my choice. Thanks for offering Green Burial and I hope it may become available in Southern California.
This should be available or at least cremation for ALL honorable discharged veterans.
Why am I thinking once the veteran is all withered away and there is nothing left, that the VA will come by the gravesite, pull your gravestone, dig up the “empty” grave, and place a new body in that same place with a new gravestone? They say that would “save” space, but your loved ones will go to your gravesite, or what was your gravesite and see your gravestone is no longer there but someone else is buried there. That seems kind of underhanded to me if that is the real reason behind the “green” burial. A dead body in the ground no matter in a metal coffin or marble urn, etc. is going to heat up our earth and make it burn up. Can we please stop with the whole “global warming” and “climate change” hoax? It is very old and there is zero proof that our environment is in danger.
Global warming and climate change is very real with a lot of proof. This is not the place for your comments that this is a hoax. This is about preserving land and having Earth friendly burials.
You say there is no proof, therefore you don’t believe. Do you apply that logic to every aspect of your life?
As a veteran, I live in the state of Washington and I’d like to know if a “Green Burial” would apply to veteran burial grounds in my state? I believe one is located near Tacoma, Washington. Thank You.
Very good idea
This is fantastic news, not just for personal reasons, but religious and cultural reasons as well.
Traditional or natural burials (green burials) for my indigenous community have been problematic in the past due to Louisiana’s brief time-period for green burial completion.
At the least, secured with the knowledge that support is available from the VA’s National Cemetery Administration (VCA), families may experience less anxiety and worry during these times of great sadness.
What is the specific criterior
to be accepted into the green burials.
Are retired Veterans beneficiaries eligible for cash compensation when buried at a civilian cemetery without Veterans headstone?
I am pleased to hear we could have a green burial with the VA. Can future administrations stop this program if they don’t like it, I’m curious?
I’m about to eat dinner yet still managed to read this comment. I think it’s a good idea.
Very interested in green burial. Excellent idea
I’m definitely checking into this. Thank you!
I have requested burial information from all listed sources with absolutely REGREBALLY NO RESPONSE.
I am SO happy that the V.A. is finally accepting Green Burials. I think it should be available at all V.A. cemeteries. This is what I want, but live in Virginia.
This is of interest to me, and I’m guessing will be to my wife of 53 years (and counting). We live in Michigan, and plan to use Great Lakes National Cemetery when the time comes. I sorry to see that only the three cemeteries listed provide green burials, and hope that there will be expansion of this.
Green Burials
I Heartily agree with “Green Burial”. Three years ago I Buried my Sister in this manor. Cost aside, why would anyone want to have preserving chemicals put into a Loved One? Preserved to what end? Are they going to get back up one day!? I think Not! Metal Coffins, Grave “Liners”, All a Tremendous expense! These are unnecessary! What ever happened to “Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust” ? I’m 79 years old, close enough to Death’s Door to appreciate the impact my death will have Financially on my Family! I definitely want a “Green” burial ! Come on People! Admit it to yourselves! All of that Super Expensive Stuff is just so YOU, can believe your Dearly Departed will always remain Just the way you remembered Them!! You can still Always hold that same memory. I know I DO!
This is welcome news. However, I am surprised Oregon isn’t one of the options considering how ‘green’ and ‘save the earth’ we are.
I hope this will include all national cemeterys Frank Vento