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National Cemetery Administration

 

Filming and Photography Guidance in National Cemeteries

Cemetery management retains the right to approve, disapprove or halt filming or photography that interferes with normal cemetery operations, violates a family's expressed desire for privacy or depicts VA inaccurately and/or Veterans negatively. Political or partisan activities of any nature, including filming of campaign ads, are not permitted on cemetery grounds.

News Media / Public / Family Members

  • Filming or photography within the cemetery will not interfere with normal cemetery operations, disrupt the peaceful ambiance of the cemetery or violate a family's expressed desire for privacy.
  • Filming or photography of individual headstones and markers, committal services and burials by family members, the news media or the public will be allowed if done in a respectful manner.
  • News media should contact cemetery staff in advance to conduct a news story or to cover a committal service or interment.
  • Restrictions on news media may be implemented by cemetery staff in order to comply with the wishes of family members, to maintain decorum or enforce VA policy.
  • News media are not required to reimburse the cemetery for expenses incurred while covering a newsworthy event in the public interest.

Entertainment / Commercial Requests

  • Filming or photography for entertainment or commercial purposes is permitted under limited circumstances.
  • The film company must contact the cemetery staff in advance to request permission and schedule the date/time of the filming.
  • Must have a licensed drone operator and show the license, if using a drone to film.
  • Must show FAA clearance to operate in the airspace.
  • Must sign a VA filming agreement before filming may begin.
  • Filming or photography within the cemetery will not interfere with normal cemetery operations, disrupt the peaceful ambiance of the cemetery or violate a family's expressed desire for privacy.
  • VA reserves the right to document filming activities at national cemeteries for preservation, training and publicity purposes.
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