Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery
P.O. Box 8
Rittman, Ohio 44270-0008
Phone: 330-335-3069 Fax: 330-335-5087
Email: jteas@cem.va.gov
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Background Information
In 1987 the Department of Veterans Affairs identified the Cleveland area as one of ten areas of the country most in need of burial space for veterans based on veteran population. In 1993 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs selected a 274-acre site in Medina County 45 miles south of Cleveland, on Rawiga Road in Rittman..
The initial cemetery will contain approximately 60 acres and will include
• 15,900 full-casket gravesites
• 3,000 sites for cremated remains
• cemetery entrance area
• administration/maintenance complex
• two (2) committal shelters
What are the costs to the family for services provided by the National Cemetery?
There is no charge for any service provided by a National Cemetery. We provide the gravespace, a graveliner, open and close the grave and supply an upright headstone for flat marker. The National Cemetery provides all perpetual care of the grave..
What type of marker is provided.
For full casket sites an upright granite headstone will be ordered and placed on the gravesite. A flat granite marker will be used for the 3’ X 3’ in-ground cremation sites. The columbarium sites will be marked with granite niche markers.
What is inscribed on the marker?
Mandatory items on the marker for a veteran are: name of decedent, branch(es) of service, years of birth and death. Optional items inscribed at Government expense may include:
religious emblem, grade, rate or rank and war service(s). The following awards are inscribed at government expense: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart. Complete month and day for dates of birth and death may be used if desired by next of kin. Space permitting, an additional inscription is available at government expense. Examples of additional inscriptions are terms of endearment or quotations.
How does one arrange for burial in the National Cemetery?
Because there are no advanced arrangements to be made, when death occurs the next of kin of the decedent should contact a funeral home, providing a copy of the veteran’s discharge document or whatever military service-related documents are available. The funeral director will then contact the National Cemetery office to arrange interment. The complete name of the veteran, along with military rank, service and social security numbers and any VA Claim number; dates of service; date and place of birth and death should also be furnished. If all of this information is not available, as much as possible should be provided. Because the military service of each veteran must be verified, failure to provide the required data may result in a delay of burial.
Who is eligible to be buried in the National Cemetery?
• Most veterans who have been discharged from active duty military service under other than dishonorable conditions are entitled to burial in a National Cemetery.
• There are time restrictions for enlisted personnel who began their active service after September 7, 1980 and officer personnel who entered service after October 17, 1981. They must have completed 24 months of continuous service or the full period for which called to active duty, whichever is shorter.
• Veterans discharged due to a hardship discharge or a service-connected disability prior to completing 24 months of continuous service
• Any member of the US Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty
• Any person who has retired from the Army or Air National Guard or from the Reserves
• The spouse of an eligible active duty member or veteran, even if the veteran or active duty member is not interred in a National Cemetery Minor dependent children of an eligible active duty member or veteran who are unmarried and under age 21 have entitlement to National Cemetery burial. A dependent child who has reached age 21 and is pursuing a course of instruction in an approved educational institution retains their eligibility until they reach age 23. The veteran’s or active duty member’s unmarried adult children who are incapable of self-support due to a permanent disability sustained prior to reaching age 21 can be buried in the National Cemetery. The adult child’s next of kin must provide the following documents to the cemetery at the time of burial: (a) a statement of the decedent’s marital status, (b) a statement of the degree of dependency; and (c) a statement from the attending physician as to the nature and duration of the disability.
Can the spouse be interred before the veteran at a National Cemetery?
If the spouse of an eligible veteran passes away before the veteran, the spouse may be interred at a National Cemetery. Space for the veteran will be reserved in the same site.
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