The following notice was shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration (NCA) on March 20: 

As of today, NCA will only conduct committal services for groups of 10 or fewer people. As of Monday, March 23, Committal Services (including honors) will not be conducted until further notice. Both of these announcements, especially the latter, will impact Military Honors. Additionally volunteer honors are discontinued (i.e. American Legion, VFW, etc). 

NCA cemeteries are open for visitation, and families CAN choose to have a burial and witness it from a distance (the ten or fewer people rule applying) but without honors and without a committal service. Families CAN also have a committal service at a future time if they choose to go with immediate burial at an NCA cemetery. 

In the meantime, thank you for your steadfast support of America’s Veterans and their families. Together we will come out of this trying time stronger and better.

Currently, all Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration (NCA) cemeteries are open for burials and visitations by the public. To schedule a burial, call 800-535-1117 (option 1).

In light of concerns regarding COVID-19, the NCA understands that some families may prefer to proceed with direct interment of their loved one and postpone the formal committal services until a later date. The NCA will work to accommodate these preferences. 

To promote the safety and well-being of all of their customers, visitors, volunteers, staff and cemetery personnel will be discouraged from handshaking and any unnecessary physical contact to minimize the potential transmission of germs and viruses until the pandemic conditions are under control. The NCA requests you share this with the families in advance of their arrival to the national cemetery. 

As warranted, the NCA will provide updates on the operating status of individual national cemeteries on its social media pages: www.facebook.com/nationalcemeteries and www.twitter.com/vanatcemeteries.