Veterans headstones: military memorials, VA markers and personalization options

What is a veterans headstone?

A veterans headstone is a memorial that identifies and honors someone who served in the military.

There is no single design that defines a veteran memorial.

Some families choose a government-furnished headstone or marker provided through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Others choose a privately designed granite headstone that includes the veteran's branch of service, rank, military emblem or other service information.

A veteran's military history can also be incorporated into a more traditional single upright headstone, companion monument or family memorial.

The right option depends on several factors:

• Where the veteran will be buried

• Cemetery regulations

• Eligibility for VA memorial benefits

• Whether the family wants a government or private marker

• The amount of personalization desired

• Whether the memorial will also represent a spouse or other family member

Understanding those distinctions before selecting the stone can help families avoid unnecessary changes later.

VA headstones and privately purchased veterans headstones

One of the first decisions families may encounter is whether to use a government-furnished memorial or purchase a private headstone.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides government headstones and markers for eligible veterans and service members.

Eligibility depends on factors including the individual's military service and discharge status. Veterans buried in private cemeteries may also qualify for certain VA memorial benefits.

Families can review the current eligibility requirements directly through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs before making a decision.

A government-furnished marker provides standardized recognition of the veteran's service.

A privately purchased veterans headstone provides considerably more freedom in the overall memorial design.

Families may choose the granite color, monument shape, inscription arrangement, portraits, religious imagery and additional personal artwork, subject to cemetery requirements.

Neither approach is automatically better. The right choice depends on how the family wants the veteran to be remembered and where the memorial will be installed.

Veterans headstones in private cemeteries

Many veterans are buried in private, religious or community cemeteries rather than national veterans cemeteries.

Eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries may qualify for a government-furnished headstone or marker through the VA. They may also be eligible for a VA medallion designed to be attached to a privately purchased memorial.

This creates several possibilities for families.

A family may choose a standard government marker, create a completely personalized private monument or combine a private granite headstone with official recognition of the veteran's service where eligibility and cemetery rules allow.

Private cemeteries can still establish their own monument requirements.

Before selecting a memorial, families should verify:

• Permitted monument styles

• Height and width

• Foundation dimensions

• Granite or bronze requirements

• Placement

• Installation procedures

• Rules regarding additional plaques or medallions

Abby Rose Inc. works with cemeteries throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania to help families coordinate those requirements before production.

What is a VA medallion?

A VA medallion offers another way to identify a veteran when the family chooses a privately purchased headstone.

For eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries, the Department of Veterans Affairs may provide a bronze medallion that can be affixed to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker.

This allows the family to maintain a personalized monument while adding official recognition of the person's veteran status.

The VA currently offers qualifying medallions in different sizes, and the cemetery must approve the size used.

Families interested in this option should confirm current eligibility and application requirements through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Military emblems on veterans headstones

Military symbols are among the most recognizable elements of a veteran memorial.

Depending on the type of headstone, a memorial may include imagery associated with the veteran's branch of service, such as:

• U.S. Army

• U.S. Navy

• U.S. Air Force

• U.S. Marine Corps

• U.S. Coast Guard

• U.S. Space Force

A privately designed monument can also incorporate other service-related elements where appropriate and permitted.

The important distinction is that government-furnished VA headstones follow federal specifications regarding the symbols that can appear on them, while privately purchased monuments provide greater design flexibility.

For example, VA government markers use approved emblems of belief and other authorized insignia rather than allowing unrestricted logos or graphics.

A custom granite veterans memorial can provide more space for combining military identity with personal artwork.

What military information can be included on a headstone?

Families often want the monument to preserve important details about a veteran's service.

Depending on the memorial design, information might include:

• Military branch

• Rank

• Years of service

• Unit

• Conflict or war

• Military decorations

• Service-related inscription

• Veteran status

The amount of information that should appear depends on the size and style of the monument.

A larger upright headstone provides considerably more room than a flat marker.

The goal should be to preserve the most meaningful details without making the memorial difficult to read.

For families unsure about the wording, our headstone inscription guide covers different approaches to names, dates, epitaphs and military service information.

Personalizing a veterans headstone beyond military service

A veteran's service may have been an important part of their life, but it was rarely the only part.

A memorial can recognize both.

For example, a veterans headstone might include an Army emblem together with a portrait, family inscription, religious symbol or image representing a lifelong interest.

Personalization options can include:

• Etched portraits

• Family relationships

• Religious imagery

• Crosses or Stars of David

• Angels

• American flags

• Landscapes

• Flowers

• Personal sayings

• Hobbies

• Professional achievements

• Bilingual inscriptions

The strongest veteran memorials often combine military recognition with details that show who the person was to their family.

Our guide to personalizing a headstone provides additional ideas for incorporating artwork, inscriptions and meaningful symbols into the design.

Choosing the right type of headstone for a veteran

Veterans memorials can be created in several monument styles.

Upright veterans headstones

A granite upright headstone provides the greatest amount of visible space for personalization.

A single upright monument can accommodate military information together with names, dates, an epitaph, service emblems and custom artwork.

This can be particularly appropriate when the family wants the veteran's military service to be one part of a larger personalized memorial.

Flat veterans markers

Flat granite markers provide a simpler, lower-profile alternative.

They may be selected by family preference or required by the cemetery section.

Because inscription space is more limited, careful layout becomes particularly important.

Slant markers

Slant markers provide an angled inscription surface while maintaining a lower overall height than an upright monument.

Military symbols, names and service information can be incorporated into the available face.

Double veterans headstones

If the veteran will share a memorial with a spouse, a double upright headstone can recognize military service without making the entire memorial solely about one person.

For example, one side may incorporate military service information while the overall design remains unified around the couple.

Family monuments

Veterans can also be memorialized as part of a larger family monument.

Military emblems or service information can distinguish the veteran's inscription while keeping the family monument visually consistent.

Choosing granite for a military memorial

Granite selection affects both the appearance and the engraving possibilities of a veterans headstone.

Traditional gray granite can create a classic military memorial appearance, while black or other darker polished granite can provide greater contrast for detailed portraits and etching.

There is no required granite color for a privately purchased veterans monument unless the cemetery establishes one.

Families should consider:

• Cemetery requirements

• Existing family monuments

• Military artwork

• Lettering contrast

• Portraits or etching

• Personal preference

You can explore Abby Rose Inc.'s available granite colors and memorial materials when planning the monument.

Religious symbols and veterans headstones

Military and religious identity can appear together on the same memorial.

Families may choose a cross, Star of David or another symbol representing the veteran's faith alongside military information.

For government-furnished VA headstones and markers, the Department of Veterans Affairs maintains an official list of approved emblems of belief.

Privately designed memorials may offer additional flexibility, subject to cemetery regulations.

When both military and religious elements are included, the design should give each enough space to remain clear rather than crowding multiple symbols into one area.

Veterans headstones at national cemeteries

A national cemetery operates differently from a private cemetery.

Memorialization in VA national cemeteries follows federal standards, including the types and styles of government headstones and markers used.

Families generally do not have the same freedom to install a completely custom private monument that they might have in a traditional private cemetery.

This distinction is especially important for families in Pennsylvania and New Jersey who may be considering a national cemetery.

For example, Abby Rose serves families in the Newtown area near Washington Crossing National Cemetery, where veterans memorialization follows federal specifications rather than the rules used by a conventional private cemetery.

Families should therefore decide where the veteran will be buried before beginning a custom monument design.

Can a veteran have both a private headstone and VA recognition?

In certain circumstances, yes.

A veteran buried in a private cemetery may have a privately purchased headstone while also receiving VA recognition through an eligible medallion or other benefit.

VA rules also allow government headstones or markers in certain situations where a privately purchased marker is already present, depending on eligibility and date of death.

Because federal eligibility rules can change and individual circumstances differ, families should verify the current requirements directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs rather than assuming a particular benefit applies.

The cemetery must also approve whatever memorial will be installed on the plot.

Does the VA pay for installation in a private cemetery?

A common source of confusion is the difference between the memorial itself and cemetery installation.

The VA may provide an eligible government headstone, marker or medallion without charge, but a private cemetery may charge fees for setting, placement, foundations, maintenance or related services.

Those costs vary by cemetery.

This is another reason to contact the cemetery early in the memorial process.

A monument provider can help coordinate the physical requirements, while questions regarding VA eligibility and benefits should be confirmed through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

What documents may families need?

Families applying for VA memorial benefits may need documentation establishing military service and eligibility.

One of the most commonly used documents is the Veteran's DD214 or another applicable discharge document.

The documentation required can depend on the individual's service history and the specific benefit being requested.

Families should consult the current VA application instructions before submitting a request.

For government headstones and markers, the VA currently uses VA Form 40-1330, with applications available through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cemetery approval still matters

Military service does not override cemetery regulations.

Whether the memorial is privately purchased or government-furnished, the cemetery still needs to determine whether the marker can be installed on the particular gravesite.

This is especially important in private cemeteries, where sections may differ in their requirements.

Before finalizing a veterans memorial, confirm:

• Cemetery

• Section

• Grave or lot

• Permitted monument type

• Dimensions

• Foundation

• Installation procedures

• Medallion or accessory rules

Doing this at the beginning can prevent delays later.

What the process looks like with Abby Rose Inc.

For families choosing a privately designed veterans headstone, the process begins with the cemetery and the person being memorialized.

Cemetery verification. We identify the cemetery and applicable memorial requirements.

Memorial selection. The family chooses the monument type and granite color.

Personalization. Military service information, names, dates, symbols, artwork and inscriptions are incorporated into the design.

Design approval. The family reviews the complete memorial before production.

Production. Once approved, the headstone is engraved and finished.

Cemetery coordination and installation. The completed memorial is prepared for installation according to cemetery requirements.

VA eligibility and government benefits remain administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, while Abby Rose Inc. can help families with the private monument design and cemetery side of the process.

Frequently asked questions

Does the VA provide free headstones for veterans?
Eligible veterans and service members may qualify for a government-furnished headstone or marker through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligibility should always be confirmed directly with the VA.

Can I buy a custom headstone for a veteran instead?
Yes. Families can choose a privately purchased custom memorial where cemetery rules permit. Military service can be incorporated through inscriptions, emblems and artwork.

Can a private veterans headstone include a military emblem?
Yes. Military symbols and service information can be incorporated into privately designed memorials, subject to cemetery requirements.

What is a VA medallion?
A VA medallion is an official bronze marker available to certain eligible veterans for attachment to a privately purchased headstone in a private cemetery.

Can a veterans headstone also include a spouse?
Yes. A privately purchased double or companion memorial can recognize the veteran's service while memorializing both spouses.

Can veterans headstones include portraits?
Yes. Privately designed granite memorials can include etched portraits and other personalized artwork where the cemetery permits them.

Does Abby Rose Inc. work with veterans memorials in New Jersey and Pennsylvania?
Yes. Abby Rose Inc. creates custom memorials and coordinates cemetery installation for families throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Create a meaningful memorial for a veteran

Military service deserves recognition, but a veteran's memorial can also preserve everything else that made that person unique.

Whether your family prefers a traditional granite monument with subtle military details or a highly personalized veterans headstone incorporating service information, portraits, symbols and family inscriptions, the design should reflect both the service given and the life lived.

Abby Rose Inc. has more than 25 years of experience creating custom headstones and monuments for families throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Explore our custom headstones and monuments or request a memorial consultation to discuss a veterans memorial with our team.