When a service member has passed away, finding the right headstone to honor their memory and sacrifice can be overwhelming. While you can always go to a custom grave marker and monument maker, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also offers quite a few options for families at no charge. Here's what you need to know.

Headstone Options for Veterans 

Eligibility

A VA-provided headstone is only eligible for those veterans who will be buried in a national cemetery. Unfortunately, those who prefer to have the body laid at rest in a private cemetery will need to purchase a custom headstone. 

Options

Through the VA, families can get upright, flat, or a bronze niche grave marker. They can also provide a medallion. 

• Upright: Commonly made from granite or marble and weighing about 230 pounds, an upright marker is about four feet tall, a foot wide, and four inches thick.
• Flat: Also made from the same stone materials as upright markers, flat ones are about 100 pounds lighter and have the same thickness. However, they are only about two feet long, a foot wide, and of course, lay flat on the surface of the ground. They can also be made from bronze, but those are much smaller and will need to be attached to a stone base, which the VA does not provide.
• Bronze Niche: A bit smaller than the flat bronze marker, bronze niche markers signify cremated remains. They are significantly lighter and will also need to be mounted, with bolts, to a stone base.
• Medallion: If the deceased's family would like to have a custom headstone anyway, they can still avail the VA for a medallion that can be affixed to it. It will say "veteran" on it, as well as the branch they served. 

If a service member in your family has passed away and you are interested in getting a custom headstone, contact McGee Monuments. For more than a century, this family-owned and -operated business has served families throughout Rochester, NY. They offer more than 100 designs and source high-quality granite to ensure it's a memorial that's fit for your loved one. To learn more about these options, visit their website or call (585) 546-4602 today.