Veterans Legacy Program (VLP)
The Veterans Legacy Program (VLP) commemorates our nation's Veterans and Service Members through the discovery and sharing of their stories. VLP encourages students and teachers around the country at the University and K-12 levels to immerse themselves in the rich historical resources found within VA's National Cemeteries and VA Grant funded cemeteries.
NCA established the Veterans Legacy Program (VLP) on Memorial Day 2016 to fulfill our mission to memorialize Veterans in perpetuity, and to do that in innovative and engaging ways. Many Americans are unaware that NCA operates 156 national cemeteries, with more being added regularly. These cemeteries are spread throughout the country, in major cities and small towns. Each uniquely reflects the community where it resides.
Video: Veterans Legacy Program Overview
Since its inaugural year, VLP has worked with multiple universities and non-profit educational organizations to launch educational programs focused on researching and sharing the stories of Veterans in their communities. Most recently, in 2022, VLP worked with St. Ambrose University, Black Hills State University, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Santa Fe Community College, and West Virginia Humanities Council. Each of these institutions approached their educational programs differently but all were centered on honoring the legacies of Veterans in national cemeteries.
To date, VLP has awarded funding to 35 programs. These programs have engaged nearly 15,000 students of all levels and produced over 2,500 Veteran biographies, 50 documentary videos, and over 100 lesson plans.
VLP Resources for National Cemeteries
⇒ Beaufort National Cemetery: Resources about the Civil War in Beaufort, SC and the National Cemetery System.
⇒ Florida National Cemetery: Extensive resources about Florida National Cemetery, developed in conjunction with the University of Central Florida.*
⇒ National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific: Video about NMCP, more affectionately known as the "Punchbowl", and other videos developed at San Francisco State University.
⇒ Riverside National Cemetery: Resources about service men and women buried at Riverside National Cemetery and the National Cemetery System.
⇒ South Dakota Cemeteries: Extensive resources developed by faculty and students at Black Hills State University, about Veterans interred at Black Hills National Cemetery, Fort Meade National Cemetery, Hot Springs National Cemetery, Akicita Owicahe Lakota Freedom Veterans Cemetery, and Sicangu Akicita Owicahe Veterans Cemetery.
* External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that will open in a new tab and take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
Program (VLP)
National Cemetery Administration
Attn: General Inquiries
810 Vermont Avenue
Washington, DC 20420
MyVA411 main information line:
800-698-2411
