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National Cemetery Administration

 

Volunteer at VA National Cemeteries

Volunteers are an invaluable resource for the NCA and VA national cemeteries. There are many opportunities and ways you can volunteer at a VA national cemetery to honor and remember interred Veterans along with their family members. Becoming a volunteer is a great way to learn about Veterans' sacrifices for our nation.

Many youth organizations and students at public schools, colleges and universities have requirements for volunteer hours. These individuals and groups, as well as various components of the Department of Defense (DoD) including active-duty service members and National Guard and Reserve forces, and Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) can find annual volunteer opportunities or more frequent projects and activities available at VA national cemeteries.

How to Volunteer at a VA National Cemetery

1

Find a VA national cemetery.

If you want to learn more about volunteering at a VA national cemetery or have interest in completing a service project at one, find a VA national cemetery near you for cemetery details and contact information.

2

Contact a VA national cemetery.

Contact a VA national cemetery to find out what volunteer opportunities may be available.

3

Obtain approval from a VA national cemetery.

Any volunteer event or service project must be done in coordination with and approved by VA national cemetery staff.


Ways to Volunteer


Annual volunteer opportunities at VA national cemeteries:


Honor Veterans at time of burial:

  • Serve in Military Funeral Honors details
  • Play live "Taps" at Veterans' funerals

Staff the public information centers:

  • Greet visitors
  • Assist Veterans and visitors with information about the cemetery
  • Provide directions around the grounds
  • Provide administrative support

Join the support committee:

  • Plan ceremonies for Memorial Day and Veterans Day
  • Donate helpful items such as golf carts used to transport visitors who need assistance in reaching a gravesite
  • Recruit volunteers for the cemetery
  • Coordinate volunteer activities during special events
  • Raise and lower cemetery flags on national holidays

Be a part of history:

  • Research and document cemetery history
  • Serve as guides who educate the public about the nation's history and Veterans' sacrifices
  • Help identify and catalogue monuments in VA national cemeteries
  • Provide walking tours to students and other visitors

Help maintain and beautify the hallowed grounds:

  • Prune and sculpt cemetery trees
  • Mend cemetery flags and ensure they are in perfect condition for public display
  • Sponsor a burial area or flower bed and maintain it all year long
  • Resurface and repaint/stain cemetery benches used for reflection and rest
Boy Scouts holding American flags to place at headstones at a national cemetery.
Scouts from the Boy Scouts of America youth organization volunteering to place American flags at headstones at a national cemetery.
Two volunteers cleaning headstones and using brushes and buckets of water.
Volunteers cleaning headstones at a national cemetery during the National Day of Service.
Seven members of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) present arms while performing military funeral honors at a national cemetery.
Members of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) volunteering to perform military funeral honors at a national cemetery.
Volunteers beautify the entrance to Sacramento Valley National Cemetery with plants and flowers.
Vaca Valley Garden Club members volunteering to maintain a large flower bed at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery and beautify the grounds.
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