The Veterans Administration provides headstones at no charge for veterans who were honorably discharged.
There are three styles of headstones. A flat bronze plaque or bronze niche, white marble or grey granite flat and white marble or light grey granite upright. The bronze plaques may be placed on a flat granite base or affixed to the back of an upright or slant marker.
The VA requires proof of honorable discharge, which is found on the veteran’s
DD-214 form. There is an application form on the VA.gov website, if it isn’t in the veteran’s files. Cemetery staff has these forms and is happy to assist families in completing them.
Topeka Cemetery will set all granite VA markers at no charge.
Bronze plaques must be on granite; the price for a flat granite base is $250, including sales tax. Some veterans bronzes in Topeka Cemetery were previously set in concrete. Many families who opt for a matching bronze plaque for the spouse will have the concrete removed from the veteran’s plaque and both spouses’ plaques put on a single piece of granite. This can be done with or without a vase; contact the office for pricing.
If the veteran’s grave has a headstone, the VA will not supply a veterans headstone. It will, however, provide a medallion noting the veteran’s branch of service. There is an application form on the VA.gov website, or in the cemetery office, and the medallion also is free of charge.
Medallions come in three sizes, the existing headstone should be measured to determine which size will fit the best. Cemetery staff can help with this, too.
