Expansion of Veterans Benefits
Expansion of Veterans Cemeteries Orlando Senior Help Desk at Jewish Pavilion Senior Services
In 2025, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $77 million in grants to support the development and expansion of 20 veteran cemeteries across the country. These grants represent an important investment in honoring those who served our nation while ensuring that veterans and their families have increased access to dignified burial options.
The funding will allow for the creation of the first state veterans cemeteries in Alaska and the expansion of 19 existing cemeteries located in Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and several other states. Expansions help accommodate future burials and improve accessibility, infrastructure, and memorial spaces for families and visitors.
Veterans buried in VA national cemeteries and VA grant-funded cemeteries are also honored through the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM), an online tribute site that preserves the stories and service records of more than 10 million veterans. The memorial includes individuals interred in VA national cemeteries, VA grant-funded state cemeteries, U.S. Park Service national cemeteries, and other participating burial locations.
Creating a Lasting Digital Legacy
Each veteran listed on the Veterans Legacy Memorial has a dedicated online page where family members, friends, and fellow service members can share memories and tributes. These pages allow loved ones to help tell the full story of a veteran’s life and service.
To locate a veteran’s page, visit the VLM website and search using the veteran’s first and last name. Searches can be refined by adding details such as:
Year of death
Cemetery name
Branch of military service
Other identifying information
Before adding content, families may find it helpful to review other memorial pages to see examples of how tributes are created.
What Can Be Added to a Legacy Page
Contributors can personalize a veteran’s memorial by including:
Military awards and decorations
Career and service details
A military timeline or biography
Photographs
Newspaper clippings or historical documents (PDF format)
Personal memories and written tributes
These digital memorials provide a meaningful way for future generations to learn about and remember those who served.
Learning More About VA Burial Benefits
The VA offers a range of burial and memorial benefits for eligible veterans and their families, including burial in national cemeteries, headstones or markers, and memorial certificates.
To learn more, visit the VA’s burial and memorial benefits page at: www.cem.va.gov/burial-memorial-benefits
If you or a loved one need assistance understanding veterans’ benefits or planning ahead, the Orlando Senior Help Desk at Jewish Pavilion Senior Services is available to help guide families to appropriate resources and support services.