NATIONAL CEMETERIES
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recall services
that are available at national cemeteries.
Except for Arlington National Cemetery (which is
under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army)
and a few other exceptions noted in NAVMEDCOM-
INST 5360.1, national cemeteries are under the
jurisdiction of the Chief Memorial Affairs Director,
Department of Memorial Affairs, Veterans
Administration, Washington, DC.
NATIONAL CEMETERY
CLASSIFICATIONS
There are three classifications of national
cemeteries:
1. Open (Active)Cemeteries with grave spaces
available.
2. Closed (Inactive)Cemeteries without grave
spaces available.
3. New (Inactive)Cemeteries planned but not
yet opened.
ELIGIBILITY FOR INTERMENT
Remains of the following naval and former naval
members may be buried in any open national cemetery
except at the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia:
Navy or Marine Corps member who was serving
on active duty at time of death (other than active
duty for training).
Former Navy or Marine Corps members who
were discharged under conditions other than
dishonorable.
Any member of a Navy or Marine Corps Reserve
organization whose death occurred under
honorable conditions while the individual was
1. On active duty for training (including
authorized travel to and from active duty
training),
2. on inactive duty training (including
authorized travel to and from such training),
or
3. hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the
expense of the government for injury or
disease incurred or contracted during the
period covered by 1 and 2, above.
Members of the Naval Reserve Officers
Training Corps whose death occurred under
honorable conditions while they were
1. attending an authorized training camp or
authorized training cruise,
2. performing authorized travel to and from
that camp or cruise, or
3. hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the
expense of the government of the United
States for injury or disease incurred or
contracted during the period covered by 1
and 2, above.
Surviving spouse and minor children of
individuals covered above.
(For further information on interment eligibility at
Arlington, consult NAVMEDCOMINST 5360.1.)
At the discretion of the Chief Memorial Affairs
Director, unmarried adult children of eligible
individuals may be buried in any open national
cemetery (except Arlington) if they were totally
disabled either physically or mentally before attaining
the age of 21. The Chief Memorial Affairs Director
may also authorize the burial of unremarried widows
or widowers or eligible deceased members whose
remains were either lost at sea or buried at sea not at
their own volition, or who were officially determined
missing or missing in action and subsequently
administratively declared dead for the purpose of
terminating missing or missing-in-action status.
HONORS
Military honors for interment in national
cemeteries are the responsibility of the members
service. Honors for services at Arlington National
Cemetery are coordinated by the superintendent of the
cemetery with BUPERS or the CMC, as appropriate.
VAULTS
A metal, asphalt, or concrete vault may be
procured at the NOKs expense, if it is preferred. If a
vault is privately procured, the superintendent/director
must be notified of the outside dimensions to ensure
the proper preparation of the grave. The contractor
furnishing the vault must also provide necessary
equipment and personnel for placing the vault in the
grave before the funeral service and for placement of
the vault lid after the service.
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