KYBOYD-L Archives

From: Knott Historical Society <>
Subject: [KYBOYD] Duplicated & Triplicated Tombstones on Confederate Graves
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 11:34:34 -0400

Attention Fellow List Members:

Eastern Kentucky has been unfortunate to have had a mass ordering of
tombstones from the Veteran's Affairs in Washington, D.C. wherein
several veterans and non-veterans of the Confederacy or of any war at
all now have two and sometimes even three headstones for the same man.

Several complaints have been lodged here at the Knott County Historical
Society from those who have the misconception that our Society has
something to do with this. We do not! The complaints arise from the
fact that many cemetery owners and family members have not been
contacted in regards to this practice here in Knott County. Recently
some stones placed in the Carr Memorial Cemetery are now taking up two
distinct plots to allow a place for an additional tombstone for men who
already have tombstones, one of which already had a military designated
tombstone. Some complaints have been registered with us here at the
Knott Society wherein Confederate markers have been placed on Union
soldiers' graves much to the chagrin of the families involved.

This abuse is a flagrant disregard for the U.S. Dept. of Veterans
Affairs' policy which specifically states the following: "Do not
complete this application if the veteran's grave is already marked with
a private monument even though the veteran's military data is not
shown. Applicant must certify the grave is unmarked and a Government
headstone or marker is preferred to a privately purchased headstone or
marker. This restriction applies to companion markers. Companion
markers identify two or more decendents buried, or to be buried, in the
same or adjoining graves. A grave is considered marked if a monument
displays the decendent's name and dates of birth and/or death, even
though the veteran's military data is not shown. Applicant may be
anyone having knowledge of the deceased. Headstones or markers
furnished remain the property of the United States Government and may
not be used for any purpose other than to honor the memory of the
decedent for whom the headstone or marker is issued. A Government
provided headstone or marker may not be used as a footstone or to
supplement a private monument, or be affixed to an existing inscribed
monument. I certify the headstone or marker will be installed on the
veteran's unmarked grave at no expense to the government and all
statements made are true and correct to the best of my knowledge." -
Application for standard Government Headstone or Marker 40-1330
Veterans' Affairs.

Please consider the above before signing any forms allowing a tombstone
to be ordered in your name.

If you have a complaint, please register it with or send photos of the
duplicated and triplicated stones to:

Office of Memorial Programs
Dept. of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20420-0001
http://www.cem.va.gov/hm.htm

U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers
Washington Office
2470 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4601
Fax: (202) 225-0940

Somerset Office
551 Clifty Street
Somerset, KY 42501
Phone: (606) 679-8346
Toll Free: (800) 632-8588
Fax: 678-4856

Pikeville Office
806 Hambley Boulevard
Pikeville, KY 41501
Phone: (606) 432-4388
Fax: 432-4262

Hazard Office
601 Main Street
Hazard, KY 41701
Phone: (606) 439-0794
Fax: 439-4647

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.

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