Throughout May, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is collaborating with non-profit organizations to honor Veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries. The partnerships include Carry The Load, Travis Manion Foundation, and Victory for Veterans. These collaborations involve events, volunteer opportunities, and shared stories.
Over 70,000 volunteers are expected to visit 54 VA national cemeteries during Memorial May. NCA has been working with Carry the Load for eight years, the Travis Manion Foundation for four years, and Victory for Veterans for two years on these activities. Volunteers can find more information about events on the NCA Memorial May webpage.
“These collaborations allow us to express our collective appreciation for Veterans’ service and sacrifice,” said Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters. “Through shared efforts, we honor their legacy and ensure their stories are never forgotten.”
Carry The Load volunteers will begin visiting 17 VA national cemeteries starting May 1. Their activities will culminate in a signature Dallas Memorial March along the Katy Trail from May 25-26.
The Travis Manion Foundation’s Honor Project will be its largest yet, with 2,500 volunteers visiting over 50 cemeteries across more than 25 states during Memorial Day weekend. Family and friends can submit a Fallen Heroes request for a volunteer to visit a gravesite.
Victory for Veterans plans to place flowers on every Veteran’s grave at ten VA national cemeteries this year. Since 2021, this program has expanded significantly.
Over 5.4 million people are buried in VA national cemeteries, including over four million Veterans from various wars. The NCA honors eligible individuals with final resting places and lasting tributes commemorating their service.
The VA encourages Americans to use the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) platform to share memories about loved ones who served as it remains the nation’s largest online memorial space dedicated to Veterans.
For further details on burial benefits or pre-planning services offered by the VA's national cemetery locations or through online resources, interested parties can reach out via phone or visit designated websites.
