Military plaques should be placed at the graves of every man and woman who served this country. We owe these men and women a debt; the least we could do is honor tem after their passing. Sadly, many U.S. soldiers who have died in the wars fought by our country lie in forgotten, unmarked graves. Also upsetting are the many unmarked graves of veterans who survived their wars and returned to the United States to live out the rest of their lives.
Military plaques can be ordered for any United States veteran's unmarked grave through the United States Veterans Administration. The military plaques available come in a variety of shapes and styles. They can be cast in bronze or carved in marble. Best of all, you do not have to be a descendant or relative of the deceased. They can be ordered by anyone.
The application for ordering veterans grave markers can be obtained through the Monument Service Division of the Veterans Administration in Washington D.C. While military plaques are free, placing them in the cemetery is not handled by the VA and should be arranged for by the applicant. Any costs must also be incurred by the applicant.
The only other drawback to ordering a free military plaque from the VA is the amount of time it takes to process the order. It can take as long as two years after an application is received before the grave marker arrives. For those who are unwilling to wait that long, many memorial retailers can provide identical monuments much more quickly. Any reputable online retailer or local merchant should be able to provide one.