Headstones and Markers - Inscriptions
Note: For inscription information on special styles of Civil War and Spanish American War headstones, please see Pre-World War I Era Headstones and Markers on this website.
If desired, headstones and markers may also include an approved emblem of belief. You will find a listing of the approved Emblems of Belief Available for Placement on Headstones and Markers on this website. You will also find the listing on the back of the application form (VA 40-1330).
Additional personalized inscriptions such as terms of endearment ("beloved brother and son"; "loving wife and mother", etc.), nicknames ("Poppy", "Funny Face", etc.), affiliation with military components or organizations (“Women’s Army Corps”; ”WAC”, “WAVES”, etc.) or veterans groups, etc., may be added at the bottom of the headstone or marker with the VA's approval, if space is available and the requested inscription is respectful and in good taste.
Civilian titles such as Doctor or Reverend, or any other additions to the legal name are not permitted on the mandatory name line of the headstone or marker, but may be added as part of the additional inscription at the bottom of the marker.
Additional inscriptions may be in any language so long as they are inscribed using characters of the Latin alphabet (A, B, C, . . 1, 2, 3 . .etc. ). Both letters and numbers may be used, and where appropriate, accent marks such as the Tilde, Ampersand, Parenthesis, Colon, Hyphen, etc., may also be used.
If requesting an additional inscription in any language other than English, the request must include the proper English language translation of the inscription.
No graphics (logos, symbols, etc.) are permitted on Government-furnished headstones and markers other than the approved emblems of belief, the Civil War Union Shield, the Civil War Confederate Southern Cross of Honor, and the Medal of Honor insignias.
Documentation must be provided with VA Form 40-1330, Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker, when requesting military awards in the inscription. In most cases this information is provided on the veteran’s military discharge documents. Military awards and decorations (including those from foreign governments) other than those listed in Block 8 of the application may be added if space is available. They should be requested in Block 27. Awards and decorations will not be included without documentation to support the request.
A veteran’s spouse or other non-veteran dependent buried in a private cemetery is not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker. However, if requested on the application, space may be reserved below the veteran’s inscription so that the non-veteran's information can be inscribed later by private arrangement at private expense. Or, if requested on the application, the non-veteran dependent's name and date of birth can be included as an additional inscription at Government expense and the date of death may be added later at private expense.
