The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has expanded the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM), a digital platform dedicated to honoring veterans and service members, by introducing a new feature called "Your Story, Your Legacy." This feature allows veterans to share their personal stories before they pass away. Eligible veterans who have been approved for pre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemetery can log into a secure website to privately submit images, autobiographies, military milestones, life events, and historical documents.

The VLM already serves as a platform where family members and friends can commemorate veterans by uploading tributes, photos, biographies, and other materials. It hosts nearly 10 million interactive pages for individuals interred in various cemeteries managed by the VA or other organizations worldwide.

The content submitted by veterans will remain secure until their passing and subsequent approval for burial or memorial benefits. Once approved, the submitted content will be made public on their respective VLM page.

"The legacies we leave behind come in many forms," stated Ronald Walters, Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs. "Providing Veterans with resources to document their stories while they are still with us ensures their voices are heard and allows family members, friends, and others to appreciate the experiences of those who served."

Veterans eligible for this feature will receive an email guiding them to the "Your Story, Your Legacy" landing page. Since its launch in 2019, over 165,000 submissions have been made on veteran profile pages. All submissions undergo review by National Cemetery Administration moderators to ensure compliance with the VLM User Policy.

For more information about VA burial benefits or planning options for families, individuals can visit one of VA’s National Cemetery Locations in person or online.