Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve L. Muro spoke at an open house and dedication of the Avenue of Flags at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego Jan. 28, 2012. San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn, who was instrumental in providing a grant which funded the flags and poles, conducted the ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a simultaneous raising of 50 flags. Several awards were presented to key individuals including one to the Marine Corps Air Station staff for volunteering more than 900 hours to construct the display.

The heroic German-American soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Rowlett's Station in 1861 will continue to be commemorated for generations to come thanks to a successor to the original 32nd Indiana Infantry Monument that NCA dedicated in a special ceremony Dec. 16. The ceremony took place at Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, Ky. The replacement monument stands in the same location where the original stood for more than 140 years.

The ceremony featured the official unveiling of the monument, the laying of a wreath by regimental descendants and a rifle salute with period weapons by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve L. Muro spoke at the ceremony. "This remarkable monument provides a record for future generations; a record of selflessness, devotion to duty and commitment to causes worth fighting for," he said.

The dedication concluded a nine-year effort by NCA historians to preserve the original monument and to replace it with a successor. The original monument is now on public display in the lobby of the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Ky.

The soft ruffling of flags and a warm sunny day greeted more than 60 participants on Jan. 11 for the quarterly "Remember Our Fallen Heroes" ceremony at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery (SVNC) in Dixon, Calif. Among the many participants were the Patriot Guard Riders, US Army National Guard, Vacaville Christian Middle School, local Veterans, SVNC staff and the general public.

The quarterly memorial was held in partnership with the Missing In America Project (MIAP) whose mission is 'to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of Veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations, so as to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country.' This quarter the ceremonial flag was presented to Roberta McGuinn, Veterans Remains Officer of Placer County MIAP who volunteers to help veterans find a final resting place.

"Although I have helped hundreds of abandoned Veterans cremains to their final resting place, this was the first ceremony I have been able to attend," said McGuinn. "What a moving experience to listen to the names being called and to know I played a small part in helping them on their journey."

The National Cemetery Administration participated as an exhibitor and presenter at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) International Convention and Expo in Chicago Oct. 23-26. NFDA is the world's largest funeral service association, serving 18,500 individual members who represent nearly 10,000 funeral homes in the United States and 43 countries around the world. This year, for the first time, NFDA held its convention in conjunction with the Cremation Association of North American (CANA).

On Oct. 23, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve Muro gave a presentation to scores of funeral directors from across the United States. Muro updated the group on developments within NCA including several new cemeteries VA is developing. From Oct. 24 to 26, six NCA employees with different areas of expertise operated one of NCA's most ambitious outreach booths ever on the floor of the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, just south of Chicago's Grant Park and Soldier Field. Two large, flat-screen TV monitors allowed the group to demonstrate the NCA website and the Nationwide Grave Locator on one while showing the multiple award-winning video "A Sacred Trust" on the other. Memorial Programs Service brought nearly every type of headstone, grave marker, niche cover, plaque and medallion that it offers so that funeral directors could see for themselves the quality of the materials.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery director Marty Fury and cemetery representative Andi Dockstader brought the displays and outreach items that had been shipped to the nearby cemetery in Elwood, Ill., and stayed on to participate in the outreach booth. IT specialist Lakisha Wright set up the computers and video displays also participated in the outreach effort. Rounding out the outreach booth staff were Lance Hassell of MPS; LaQuisha Barnes, program specialist with NCA's Veterans Cemetery Grants Service; and Jim Rich of the Communications & Outreach Support Division.