Friends:
I sincerely hope you and your families are safe and healthy. We are all facing unprecedented challenges during this COVID-19 crisis. I am reaching out directly to you – our key partners in service to Veterans across the Nation – to express my appreciation for your work and to express our commitment to you.
As you are likely aware, NCA continues providing direct interments with no committal services, to protect the health and safety concerns of Veterans, family members and NCA team members, consistent with guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control. We are also working very closely with state and local entities to ensure our staff are able to stay safe and provide essential service to inter Veterans and eligible family members.
NCA is successful because we have strong partnerships with volunteers and groups that support Veterans and their families, especially you in our VSO community. We cannot thank you enough for everything you do to serve our Veterans and their families every day. Many across the Nation help render proper final respects to Veterans and support Veterans and families in many ways during the most difficult of times. We fully understand that many volunteers who support committal services and interments (through honor guards, funeral honors squads, buglers, wreath layers, etc.) are in the CDC’s at-risk groups for COVID-19. We look forward to the day when the current health emergency passes and we can resume committal services supported by these tireless and dedicated volunteers.
Working together, we will overcome today’s challenges and emerge as even stronger partners in the noble cause of serving Veterans and their families during their most difficult times.
I will ensure we provide updates to you as they become available. You can also find information on the status of national cemeteries on our social media pages. https://www.facebook.com/NationalCemeteries and https://twitter.com/VANatCemeteries
Thank you so much for your service to our Veterans and their families! Please stay safe and take care of yourselves and your families. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.
Sincerely,
Randy Reeves
Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs