Sharing a Handy Guide to "Identifying Civil War Graves" & Some Additonal Resources to Locate Veteran Gravesites in Ohio

"Identifying Civil War Graves"  -- This is a great link that can serve as a handy reference guide to identifying and understanding the inscriptions on Civil War era government issue markers, and the war medallion on flag holders that are quite often  placed next to them.    However, not all cemeteries allow the installation of the flag holders.

The information was compiled and provided by:  

Austin Blair Camp No. 7 is located in Jackson Michigan and meets locally.

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Also, check out the free database on the Ohio Genealogical Society's website:

"Ohio Civil War Roster"

AND,

"Ohio Memory"

Graves Registration Cards Collection - Surnames "A" and "B" 

Ohio Sons of the Union Veterans:

"Ohio Civil War Veterans Grave Registration"

And, some are county specific, for example:

"Union County, Ohio Veterans Burial Records

1775 - 2011"

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Keep browsing through your "Google" searches for additional links for Veterans Graves Registrations in Ohio that may be of interest to you.  

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Sample Veteran's Grave Registration Card:

 

Above is a Legend with the names of the wars (through WWI) and numbers assigned to each War that is designated by the veterans' names on WPA Cemetery Plat Maps. 

(Created by Linda Jean Limes Ellis)

Ordering U. S. Government Headstones for Deceased Veterans including Those from Pre-1917 Wars

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(Photo above from Linda Jean Limes Ellis collection)

Date: January 5, 2016

From:  Mr. Bruce D. Frail

National Graves Registration Officer at Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Providence, Rhode Island Area Research

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VA40 - 1330 - Dept. of Veterans Affairs Information and Form for ordering government issued grave markers for veterans

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"The VA has tightened their control over who can order government headstones. But, it can be done. The easiest way is to do a Next of Kin (NOK) search to see if you can locate a NOK. If you can, ask them to fill out the paperwork or write a letter to the VA stating who they are and that they give you or your group the right to act on their behalf to order the headstone. You will still need to get supporting documents, i.e. copies of actual military or pension records, these need to be the records not transcriptions of records and you will need to have someone to sign for the headstone when it is delivered and you will need someone from the cemetery or cemetery land owner to state they will allow the headstone to be installed. 

If you are ordering for someone whose service ended prior to 1917 it gets a little easier"

".....a letter from the VA to a Congressman's office stating that the VA will allow people other than the NOK to order for older veterans, i.e Pre-1917 which should be included with the application for a headstone.  

It is our hope that all people who wish to work on the graves of others outside of their family would try to locate NOK to get permission before touching the grave site." 

(Letter below provided by Mr. Bruce D. Frail)

Email: 

suvcw_ngro@verizon.net

Linkedin:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-frail-04385623

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Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War National Headquarters:

http://www.suvcw.org/

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National Graves Registration

http://www.suvcwdb.org/home/ 

Moving Ahead with "Marking Their Graves" - December 1, 2014 Deadline to Add Your Comments

Sharing an email about revising the rules that define who is eligible to order government headstones and markers for veterans.  A change is needed so those other than next of kin are able to submit an order for government headstones for veterans.  

Too many deceased veterans across America are buried in unmarked graves.

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The deadline is December 1, 2014 to make your comments.  

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To comment click HERE.

Abraham Dean

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"Thank you for your email regarding “Marking the graves of America’s veterans” and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulatory definition of “applicant” for purposes of applying for a Government-furnished headstone or marker.

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations regarding applications for headstones or markers.  VA is proposing to amend the definition of “applicant,” set forth in 38 CFR 38.632, as it pertains to individuals requesting VA headstones or markers.  In 2009, VA implemented the existing definition of applicant to include the decedent’s next of kin (NOK), a person authorized in writing by NOK, or a personal representative authorized in writing by the decedent.  An individual who met the definition was authorized to apply for a Government-furnished headstone or marker, or a new emblem of belief for inscription on a Government-furnished headstone or marker.   
   
Since 2009, VA has received a number of requests from individuals who did not meet the current definition of applicant for headstones or markers. VA has acknowledged concerns that the current regulatory definition of applicant was too restrictive and resulted in identified Veteran gravesites going unmarked.  VA shares the goal to ensure appropriate recognition of Veterans who served the United States and proposes to revise the definition of applicant to ease the restrictive aspects of the definition and allow more individuals to apply for headstones or markers, including memorial headstones or markers.

On October 1, 2014, the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published in the Federal Register, a proposed rule to amend the existing definition of eligible applicants by expanding the types of individuals who may request headstones or markers on behalf of decedents. 

VA is seeking input from Veterans, family members and other stakeholders regarding a proposed change to its definition of who may apply for a headstone or marker. 

Those wishing to review and comment on the proposed changes are encouraged to do so by searching for “National Cemetery Administration” or “2900-AO95” at www.regulations.gov.  Comments must be received on or before December 1, 2014.

Thank you for your interest in the Government Headstone and Marker Program."

Sincerely,

National Cemetery Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs

New Rules Regarding obtaining Veterans' Grave Markers & New Medallion

Click on title to access the United States Department of Veterans website with information about the New Medallion that should be available after June 30, 2010.

Also,

An email below from Mr. Robert Grim concerning rules for ordering new government markers for veterans:

From: Robert Grim robertgrim@dragonbbs.com

Subject: RE: Veteran grave markers
To: "Linda Jean Limes Ellis"
Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 3:36 PM

Linda:

I am not sure why the government changed the policy on who can obtain grave markers.
In your case if you cannot establish that you are a lineal descendant of the veteran then you will need the cemetery officials to make the application for the grave marker. It is often very difficult to get township trustees to apply for a marker because they fear other people will show up wanting the same service. Even though the grave is in a small cemetery and may be the only veteran buried in the cemetery the trustees may have a larger cemetery in their jurisdiction and they fear being asked to handle other request for the larger cemetery.

If you are willing to pay for the installation of the marker, trustees are usually willing to sign the application if you fill it out for them. In many cases the trustees will want to do the installation themselves (or employ a person they select) to make sure the installation is done correctly. Often the trustees will ask that you pay them the installation cost at the time the application is filed to make sure they get their money and they don't end up with a grave marker and no one around to install it or pay the installation cost.

Sometimes you can find someone who has an interest in veterans who is willing to take on the task of installing the grave marker free of charge. The best place to start is the county veterans service officer. They generally know the leaders of the various veterans organizations in the county and can sometimes put you in contact with someone who will help.

Best Wishes,

Bob Grim