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Archiver > ORFORUM > 2004-04 > 1081976490


From: "Duane Funk" <>
Subject: BURIED VETERANS' RECORDS NOW AVAILABLE ON WEB
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 14:01:37 -0700


I was on my way out the door when the following came into my inbox, I never
made it out the door.

By Suzanne Gamboa

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - VA has made it easier and faster for the public to get answers
about family history, old war buddies or famous war heroes. The agency put
on the Web 3.2 million records for veterans buried at 120 national
cemeteries since the Civil War.

The VA's Nationwide Gravesite Locator, at http://www.cem.va.gov, also has
records for some state veterans cemeteries and burials in Arlington National
Cemetery since 1999.

Joe Nosari, VA's deputy chief information officer for Memorial Affairs, said
the records used to be on paper and microfilm. Private companies have put
some of the information online and charged for it, but the VA information is
free, he said.

The VA's gravesite navigator includes names, dates of birth and death,
military service dates, service branch and rank if known, cemetery
information and grave location in the cemetery. The VA will withhold some
information, such as next of kin, for privacy purposes.

The site will be updated daily. Annually, about 80,000 veterans are buried
at national cemeteries.

The VA also hopes to add records for veterans whose families requested grave
markers from the VA. Those markers may go to private cemeteries or
cemeteries overseas.
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