Veterans Affairs officials on Tuesday launched a new pilot program that will allow “green” burials at three departments’ national cemeteries, in an effort to minimize the environmental impact of traditional burials of veterans and their family members.
The sites – which include the Arizona National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado and the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell – will provide special sections where individuals’ remains can be wrapped in biodegradable materials and buried with minimal environmental impact. footprint.
Remains buried in a green grave area of a VA cemetery must be prepared for burial without the use of chemicals or embalming fluids. Families eligible for burials at the three locations can immediately begin applying for the eco-friendly option.
Officials hope to learn from the first burials before expanding to other locations in the future.
“This pilot reflects our commitment to understanding and addressing the emerging funeral preferences of veterans and their loved ones,” Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters said in a statement announcing the pilot.
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The move comes after Congress approved the concept of green burial sections at its national cemeteries in legislation passed in 2022. VA officials had asked for the authority to “provide a more environmentally sustainable burial option” to families requesting alternatives to traditional burial options. .
VA processes approximately 150,000 burials annually at its cemeteries. Only about a quarter of all veterans who die each year are buried at department sites, with the rest taken to private or state cemeteries.
Nearly 2 million people visit VA cemeteries annually to pay respects to loved ones and other deceased veterans.
