National Cemetery Administration
Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials (ACCM)
Committee Designation
The Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials (ACCM) is a statutory committee authorized by Congress (Public Law 93-43, June 18, 1973) and that authorization is codified in Title 38 United States Code, Section 2401.
Objectives and Scope of Activities
To furnish consultation and advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding the administration of the national cemeteries, soldier's lots and plots which are the responsibility of the Secretary, and regarding the selection of new national cemetery construction sites, the erection of appropriate memorials and the adequacy of Federal funding for operation of the National Cemetery Administration.
ACCM Committee Members
Gina Farrisee, Chair
Virginia
Paul Adkins
Arizona
Amerophan Callahan
Arizona
Alvin Duncan
Kentucky
Thomas Hernandez
New Jersey
Michael Hoplight
New York
William Kennedy
Montana
Karen King
Georgia
Monica Mohindra
Maryland
Jared Peatman
Virginia
Floyd Watson, Jr.
Wyoming
Candace Wheeler
Virginia
Ex-Officio Member:
Karen Durham-Aguilera
Arlington National
Cemetery
Ex-Officio Member:
Tom Spoehr
American Battle
Monuments Commission
Ex-Officio Member:
Gia Wagner
Andersonville National
Historic Site
About ACCM
The Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials (ACCM) is one of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Committees. The Committee is authorized by statute, Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 2401, and operates under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App.).
VA seeks a diverse group of applicants from the general public to consider for service on the Committee. Candidates for membership should be recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of Veterans. Desirable qualifications include one or more of the following: military experience; industry experience related to memorial or burial benefits; government or nongovernment organization experience; familiarity with complex organizations; and diverse professional and personal experience.
Under current VA policy, the Committee's membership is composed of up to 12 members and three ex-officio members representing other federal government agencies responsible for Veteran cemeteries. The Secretary appoints the members of the committee to a two-year terms and may reappoint members for an additional term of service.
The Committee advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs with respect to the administration of VA national cemeteries, Soldiers' lots and plots, the selection of cemetery sites, the erection of appropriate memorials, and the adequacy of Federal burial benefits.
The Committee also provides periodic reports to the Secretary and Congress outlining recommendations, concerns and observations of VA's delivery of burial benefits and services to Veterans or work on specific projects, to include the establishment of the Access, Outreach, and Choice Subcommittee to:
- study the unique burial needs of Native American and Alaskan American Veterans and their impact on the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Veterans Cemetery Grant Program;
- determine ways to increase access to the hardest five percent of the Veteran population, such as Veterans who reside in rural areas;
- review the Emblems of Belief regulation and NCA's decision-making process;
- assist with the development of an Outreach Ambassador Program and review of outreach plan and materials; and
- review burial plot allowance discrepancies for eligible surviving spouses and family members.
The Committee's recommendations and insights assist the Secretary in ensuring that burial benefit programs are meeting the needs of the nation's Veterans, spouses and their eligible family members and meeting the mandate to maintain VA national cemeteries as national shrines.
