Types of Veteran Headstones and Grave Markers

Every type of veteran headstone and grave marker furnished by the federal government, the V.A., and the National Cemetery Administration is shown here in chronological order dating back to 1873. The first veteran grave markers were made of wood. Realizing the need for a durable, long-lasting, grave marker as National Cemeteries were being filled with hundreds of thousands of Union Soldiers, the first marble veteran headstone was designed and approved in 1873. Over time, the design evolved and new types of veteran headstones and grave markers were introduced including marble, Confederate, granite, flat ground level, and bronze. This video produced by Trae Zipperer to encourage patriotic Americans to clean every veteran headstone in America by Memorial Day will help you recognize veteran headstones and grave markers in cemeteries you visit. For more information about how to clean and maintain government-furnished veteran headstones and grave markers, go to ByMemorialDay.com and click on the link to the VA.gov website where the protocol for cleaning veteran headstones in private and municipal cemeteries has been posted by the National Cemetery Administration.

[@percellarthur666]

My Son's of Confederate veterans camp . A.G.Jenkins #628 Has a adopt a grave program , and as the State Division and the National . When you adopt a frave it's yours for life and can be passed down so no Veteran will ever be forgotten.

[@theyfaceeast]

I'm working on a website to enable volunteers to adopt veteran graves. Please subscribe to my KZbin channel so you will receive updates as I roll it out. SCV does a fantastic job caring for graves of Confederate Soldiers. I've visited many cemeteries and I'm always impressed to see Confederate flags displayed at Confederate graves while United States veterans have no flags.

[@victoriarobbins2410]

This is a wonderful video. I learned so much about each era of the military stones!

[@theyfaceeast]

Hi Victoria. Thank you for the positive feedback. I enjoy learning things myself, so I thought people would benefit from this video as they educate themselves about how to participate in our movement to clean every veteran headstone in America by Memorial Day. I'll have to update the video as I run across good examples of various styles of veteran headstones.

[@matthewodom1957]

Was out scouting cemeteries today prior to my cleaning supplies to arrive this week and found a few I was uncertain about. Thank you sir. Can’t wait to get out and make a difference in my community.

[@aaronsaunders6974]

1873: interesting. Learned something new today

[@stonecoldrestorations4591]

Great tutorial - thanks so much!

[@abelgarcia1555]

I know in your other videos, you have mentioned to stop by the office of the cemetery to get permission..I have started cleaning veterans monuments here in corpus christi tx..but have run into the person in charge does not allow anyone to clean the monuments other than family members...we have so many veterans in this cemetery...how can I change their minds...I am volunteering my time and money at no charge them or the families...I do it to honor our veterans...can you help...thanks Abel C.Garcia

[@michelangeloplumbing4973]

42" x 13" x 4" (18" below surface)

[@sgt.peterson4239]

Yes can u clean non polished granite ground level grave markers for the veterans?

[@jackdupont1883]

Where do you get your flags because usally most people get the regular polycotton which don't look like they fly as good as the ones you get could you please tell me where you get those

[@donhenson2248]

In our many cemeteries, veteran footstones were installed around 1935 by WPA workers. They are the standard 13"x24" but unlike newer stones are around 64"- 72" long. I'm puzzled by the different heights they are installed. We are re-setting many as they have sunken below 'age' --. Cannot find an exact height to re-set them. Seems like it depends on changing government sentiment. Any help appreciated.

[@theyfaceeast]

I have asked the National Cemetery Administration to produce a standard operating procedure for the setting of government-furnished veteran headstones, but have not seen one yet. I personally measured the height of headstones at Sarasota National Cemetery and I recall they were approximately 24" above ground level. Another thing I requested was for a set of instructions to be inserted into every new veteran headstone crate shipped out including proper setting and proper perpetual care. I haven't seen that yet either.

[@RVGMInc]

Enjoyed the video! Learned a lot, do you know if there is a book on this very subject, or is it gleaned from other research you have done.

[@theyfaceeast]

I created this video based on my own observations and Google search results for the purpose of enabling Volunteers to identify government-furnished veteran headstones and grave markers in their local cemeteries if they cared enough to take up the cause of cleaning veteran headstones in their community.

[@RVGMInc]

thank you! Hope you get back on your feet soon. Hope all is getting better for your family.@@theyfaceeast

[@sgt.peterson4239]

Yes so I was wondering can u use D 2 biological solution on a granite military headstones ? Supplied by the federal government ? 🇺🇸

[@sgt.peterson4239]

Granite flat ground. Can it be cleaned with D 2 biological solution. Issued by the Federal Government ? 🇺🇸

[@theyfaceeast]

Yes. D/2 works on all marble and granite headstones.

[@sgt.peterson4239]

@@theyfaceeast Awesome 👍👍 Thank You ! ! SGT. Peterson US ARMY INF 20 Veteran 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@user-hf3xj2hf1t]

East Liverpool Funerals

[@bernieramirez3000]

I. Want to know what I need to do to get a head stone for my brother that did 3 tours desert storm

[@theyfaceeast]

Google Veteran Headstone Application to find V.A. Form 40-1330. The form is 4 pages, but 3 of the pages are instructions and examples. Next of Kin can order the headstone. You will need the cemetery to sign the form. You will also need the Consignee to sign the form. The consignee is the local monument company who will receive the veteran headstone from the V.A. supplier, deliver the stone to the grave site, and properly set the stone in place. Something to know is that you can add personal etchings to an upright traditional headstone. Florida National Cemetery told me 2 lines of 15 characters on each line, spaces count as 1 character. For example: FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS I'm pretty sure I've seen 4 lines of text on some veteran headstones, so you should ask about the limit. I've seen Bible verses, etc.

[@theyfaceeast]

The V.A. does not accept emailed applications. You have to fax them or mail them.

[@SeanaSmith-ge6wg]

RIP

[@jonathandavis1525]

Hey are u still cleaning veterans heaf stones? I haven't heard any new videos on 4 years,,are u ok, worried about u

[@theyfaceeast]

I'm still alive! Thanks for asking. We lost our home and belongings in the flood waters of Hurricane Ian back in Sep 2022. Life stands still for at least 18 months following such a disaster with 100% of personal capacity filled with nothing but recovery efforts. I have videotaped some veteran headstone cleaning efforts, but I haven't had time to edit them for release on KZbin. Our home is now put back together, so I intend to dedicate some time to producing new videos. I also have a book being release on July 1st, so I'll be working on videos for that too. If you'd like to learn about the book visit TheyFaceEast.com where you can read Chapter 6. The book was written prior to cleaning the first veteran headstone, so I consider They Face East to be the prequel to By Memorial Day.

[@francesbernard2445]

I hate that one type of fashion house which makes every veteran around the world wear only their one kind of fashion. Our fight against slavery will not be complete until we bring that one kind of fashion house down in every nation.