#Middlebury #VeteransLegacyMemorial #VA #Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs has just expanded the use of the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) – the online digital platform dedicated to the memory of veterans who have passed away. Until now, a page for a veteran was created, usually by family, after that veteran died. Now the new feature – “Your Story, Your Legacy” – means that living veterans can create their own page, to be activated after their death.
This is a great addition to the project, especially for veterans who have no family who would create the page. The veteran can submit all the information in advance and have it just the way he or she wants. The VLM will hold the information until they’re notified of the death and burial. There is one caveat: The veteran needs to have advance approval for pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery.
Have you seen the Memorial? At this point there are 10 million Legacy pages. (The VLM automatically creates a generic page when there is a burial in a VA national cemetery.) Go online to www.vlm.cem.va.gov and explore the various ways the memorial pages have been done. Standard information includes the dates of birth and death, rank and branch of service, decorations, plus the location of burial (including a satellite photo of the location) and a photo of the marker.
But you’ll also find a variety of ways that veterans have been memorialized by additions from friends and family, with photos, bio, historical documents, stories and more. You can create your page any way you’d like – after you’ve been approved for burial in a national cemetery.
For pre-need approval for burial, you’ll need several documents, including DD-214, and the completed application VA Form 40-10007. (Download the form at va.gov/find-forms/about-form-40-10007.) If you need help with the paperwork, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.
For more information about the creation of your Legacy page, see www.cem.va.gov/VLM/faq.asp or call them at 866-245-1490.
© 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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