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National Cemetery Administration

 

Presidential Memorial Certificates

A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is a gold-embossed paper certificate bearing the official signature of the President of the United States. It honors the memory of a deceased Veteran and expresses the country's grateful recognition of his or her service in the Armed Forces.

This program was initiated in March 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and has been continued by each subsequent President. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the PMC program through the National Cemetery Administration.

Presidential Memorial Certificate



Am I eligible for a Presidential Memorial Certificate?

You may be eligible for a Presidential Memorial Certificate if you meet both of these requirements.

Both of these must be true:

  • The Veteran or Reservist is eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and
  • You're the next of kin, family member, or close friend of the Veteran or Reservist (or an authorized service representative for a family member or friend of the Veteran or Reservist)

» Find out if you're eligible for burial in a national cemetery

Will I automatically get a PMC or do I need to apply for one?

It depends on where the Veteran is buried and your relationship to them. If the Veteran is buried in a national cemetery, we'll automatically present a PMC to a Veteran's next of kin at the burial. If the Veteran is eligible for burial in a national cemetery but is instead buried in a private cemetery, a family member or close friend can apply to get a PMC. We'll accept multiple requests for a PMC.

To speed up the claim process, please submit the Veteran's military discharge documents and death certificate. Don't send original documents since we can't return them.

» Review our list of military discharge documents

How do I apply for a Presidential Memorial Certificate?

You will need to fill out a request form and provide supporting documents.

» Apply online, in person, by mail, or by fax

Check the status of your request

If it's been 4 months since you applied for a PMC and you haven't received it yet, call us at 202-632-7300 to find out the status of your request. Please don't send a second application unless we ask you to.

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