A pilot program by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will soon allow for green burials in newly designated sections of three of its national cemeteries. In fact, the VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is already actively encouraging interested families to proactively request interment in these sections.
“NCA is pleased to begin offering this new option to Veterans and their family members eligible for interment in a VA national cemetery,” said Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters in the VA’s official press release. “This pilot reflects our commitment to understand and address the emerging burial preferences of Veterans and their loved ones.”
Green burial sections are being created in National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona; Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
Although the VA currently accepts various aspects of green burial — such as unembalmed remains and biodegradable receptacles — in its traditional sections in any national cemetery. However, those gravesites are not maintained as those in the specialized green burial sections will be. These new areas will feature a natural appearance, with native grasses and plants, and distinctive, flat grave markers.
The green burial sections were authorized with Congress’ passing of the National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022, which was signed into law in January 2023. The act also addressed plot and interment allowances on tribal-owned trust land, expansion of Fort Bliss National Cemetery in Texas, and additions to the list of crimes that would prohibit someone convicted of those offenses from burial in a national cemetery.
During the initial pilot phase of the green burial program, the NCA will “gather critical information to inform customer expectations and communications and define operational procedures for implementing green burial sections at additional cemeteries.”
Both cremated and intact remains will be accepted for green burial, as long as bodies are prepared without embalming chemicals and biodegradable containers or shrouds are utilized.
