Section I – Eligibility Requirements
A. Eligibility for interment in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery (NHSVC) or receipt of a memorial marker is based on laws passed by Congress and incorporated into Title 38 of the United States Code (Veteran’s Benefits). Interment at NHSVC or the provision of a memorial marker will be permitted only after eligibility has been conclusively determined in accordance with the requirements and procedures reflected in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) directive 3210/1, U.S. Code Title 38, NH Revised Statute § 21:50 (2019), and the Burial Equity Act for Guards and Reserves Act (2022).
B. For interment at the NHSVC, the veteran's character of discharge or separation from military service cannot be dishonorable or bad conduct. Typically, an honorably discharged veteran who served on active duty is eligible. Honorably discharged members of the Selected Reserve (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Naval Reserve, Air National Guard or Army National Guard) are eligible if they qualify for military retirement pay upon reaching age 60, were placed on and completed Federal Active Duty (other than Active Duty for Training) during their term of service, completed at least one enlistment or, in the case of an officer, period of initial obligation, were discharged for disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, or died while a member of the Selected Reserve.
C. Veterans may pre-apply for interment at the NHSVC. Determination of eligibility is based on the most current NCA directives, including the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act (2022). As NCA directives change, the NHSVC will adopt the most current NCA rules and guidelines.
D. Effective May 17, 2023, any veteran or family member who is convicted of a Tier III sexual offense and/or registered as a Tier III sex offender is ineligible for interment at the NH State Veterans Cemetery. If an eligibility application was previously approved, eligibility will be revoked. If a veteran applicant’s eligibility is revoked, any living, non-veteran dependent is also deemed ineligible. If a conviction is under appeal, eligibility determination will be suspended pending final adjudication. The NH Adjutant General maintains final eligibility decision authority on any applicant.
E. The NHSVC requires a completed application form to establish eligibility of the veteran and dependent(s). The cemetery director is responsible for determining eligibility.
F. It is the responsibility of the veteran, the veteran's next-of-kin, or a designated agent to furnish documentation necessary to establish eligibility prior to any veteran or dependent interment. Applicants must provide official paperwork that indicates the term of service and characterization of discharge. A list of acceptable discharge documents can be found at https://www.va.gov/records/discharge-documents/.
G. Eligibility for dependents is based on the veteran’s eligibility IAW NCA Directive 3210/1, Section III. Below are the most common examples of dependents. Inquire with the cemetery office or refer to NCA Directive 3210/1, Section 3 for other examples.
(1) Non-veteran spouse of eligible veteran
(2) Unmarried minor child of an eligible veteran (including adopted child or stepchild who is a member of the veteran’s household). A minor child is a person who is unmarried and under 21 years of age, or under 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution.
(3) An unmarried adult child of a veteran who became permanently physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before reaching 21 years of age or before reaching 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution.
Section II - Operations
A. Cemetery Location
110 Daniel Webster Highway (Route 3)
Boscawen, New Hampshire 03303-2413
B. Hours of Operation
(1) Office: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday (except state holidays).
(2) Cemetery Grounds: Open from Sunrise to Sunset - 7 days a week.
C. Committal Services
(1) Committal services may be conducted in either the chapel or at the gravesite, but not both. When using the chapel, the casket will be removed from that location by the funeral director and brought to the gravesite for interment. Cremated remains will be removed by the funeral director, military honor guard, or cemetery staff and brought to the gravesite or columbarium for interment.
(2) Committal services are held Monday - Friday. The cemetery director may authorize weekend or holiday services under extenuating circumstances.
(3) Committal services are limited to 20 minutes to allow for timely interments and preparation for succeeding services. Interments are completed immediately after the committal service.
(4) Families/visitors are requested to leave the chapel/gravesite area immediately after completion of the committal service.
(5) Services are scheduled on a first come, first-served basis. Services will be scheduled between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Full-casket burials are conducted from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. We require two (2) hours between full-casket burials except as authorized by the cemetery director.
(6) Additions/changes to this schedule are at the discretion of the cemetery director.
(7) Request for casket burial without professional burial services will be accepted if the request meets the requirements under New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Title 26 Cemeteries; Dead Bodies, Chapter 290 Burials and Disinterment, Custody of Remains of Deceased Persons Section 290:16.
D. Gravesite
Military rank or civilian stature are not given consideration in location of individual graves. Gravesite selection is made in the order the burial is scheduled. The veteran and eligible dependent(s) share a gravesite. Specific gravesites are not reserved unless both spouses are eligible veterans in which case the adjacent gravesite may be reserved for the surviving spouse.
E. Columbarium
Military rank or civilian stature are not given consideration in the location of an individual niche. Niche selection is made in the order the inurnment is scheduled. Eligible dependent(s) share the niche with the veteran. Columbarium niches are not reserved unless both spouses are eligible veterans in which case the adjacent niche may be reserved for the surviving spouse.
F. Funeral Services/Memorial Services
Funeral or memorial services are not permitted at the NH State Veterans Cemetery. Open caskets are not allowed on NH State Veterans Cemetery property.
G. Winter Burials
The NH State Veterans Cemetery conducts burials year-round. Full-casket burials will not be scheduled before 10:00 AM or after 2:00 PM. In certain circumstances, when severe frost conditions are encountered, the cemetery director may require an additional day to schedule a burial.
H. Cemetery Brochure and Guidelines
A cemetery brochure and guidelines concerning floral tributes, decorations of gravesites, gravesite flags, and cemetery grounds are available online, posted at the cemetery, and are available in the administrative office.
Section III – Grave Markers
A. Headstone/Markers
Government issued upright granite headstones are used throughout the cemetery. Columbarium niche covers will be granite. Niche markers are bronze in accordance with NCA guidelines. Private headstones or memorial monuments at gravesites are not allowed.
B. Memorial Markers
Memorial markers are provided for eligible veterans whose remains are not recovered or identified, are buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and scattered. There is one government-furnished marker per gravesite. Veterans that have a government-furnished memorial marker in another location are not eligible for a memorial marker.
C. Inscription and inscription layout of headstone or niche markers will be formatted in accordance with Veterans Administration policies as directed by the VA Office of Memorial Programs Service.
Section IV - Vaults/Grave Liners
A. Outer Burial Containers are required for full-casket services. Vaults are NOT required for burial of in-ground cremains.
B. Vault material is determined by accepted industry practices.
C. Certain sections of the cemetery are equipped with pre-placed Outer Burial Containers (OBC). For full-casket sections not equipped with OBCs, coordination of cost, delivery, and installation of the OBC by a professional vault company is the responsibility of the funeral director or designated family representative.
Section V - Fees
A. Spouses/Eligible Dependents
On the day of interment, the dependent’s survivor, legal representative, or administrator of the estate will provide the interment fee as listed on the fee schedule. Prepayment of interment fees are not accepted.
B. Eligible Veteran
The cemetery staff will apply to the Veteran's Administration for the veteran plot allowance to reimburse the state for expenses incurred in the burial of an eligible veteran. If the plot allowance was previously paid, the estate must provide payment equal to the plot allowance to the NHSVC prior to interment.
C. Selected Reserve
In accordance with the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act (2022), the NHSVC will inter eligible members of the Selected Reserves (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Air National Guard or Army National Guard) and their dependents using the following fee schedule:
C. Other Fees
As determined by the cemetery director, disinterment or re-interment may be subject to fees as outlined in the fee schedule.
Section VI - General Information
A. Overall supervision of the cemetery is vested in the cemetery director. The director is responsible for publishing, interpreting, and enforcing all rules and regulations with regards to the NHSVC.
B. It is recommended that veterans prepare applications in advance. The cemetery director will issue a Certificate of Eligibility that assures a final resting place at the NHSVC. Pre-application eliminates next-of-kin trying to find military records, which can take several days and may cause a delay in scheduling an interment. Interments will NOT be scheduled until eligibility is certified.
C. Decedent burial records are considered permanent files and will be archived and stored by the NHSVC.
D. Next-of-kin is defined under New Hampshire Revised Statute Annotated 290:16. Designated agent is defined under RSA 290:17.
E. With the concurrence of the Governor and Executive Council in accordance with the provisions of RSA 4:8, the Adjutant General may accept, on behalf of the state, conditional and unconditional gifts including grants of money, material equipment, services, and facilities from any source, public or private, for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the cemetery.
F. Memorials and/or monuments will be placed on a memorial walkway. Memorials and monuments will not be placed in areas of the cemetery that are designated for interments. Organizations interested in installing a memorial must submit a sketch detailing material, size, and inscription. These will be submitted to the cemetery director for approval prior to fabrication of such memorials. Location of the monument is determined by the cemetery director. The sponsor of a memorial is responsible for all costs associated with installation and maintenance. Should the memorial be damaged or become unsafe, any repair or replacement is the responsibility of the donor. Recognition for donors may be done on the memorial walkway. Items donated will not contain donor names. The placement of naming opportunities will be determined by the cemetery director. The Adjutant General has the final approval for determining the acceptance of memorials.
Section VII - Military Funeral Honors
A. The Department of Defense is mandated to provide military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
B. The Department of Defense provides military honors at no cost to the family.
C. Military Honors are normally requested by funeral directors and require a minimum 48 hours of advance notice. Cemetery staff may assist with requesting military honors if the family is planning the service.
D. The Government, through the funeral director, provides burial flags.
Section VIII - Political Activities
Prohibited Political Activities:
A. New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery grounds or property will not be used for endorsement of any political candidate or party.
B. No political activities such as campaign speeches, rallies, or meetings will take place on cemetery grounds.
C. Cemetery employees acting in their official capacity will not endorse any political candidate.
D. Political banners, posters, literature, bumper stickers, decals, or similar items are never authorized for display or distribution on cemetery grounds.
E. No political solicitation will take place on NHSVC grounds.
Section IX - New Hampshire Revised Statutes Chapter 110B
The foregoing regulations of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery are made in accordance with Chapter 110-B of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated. Eligibility requirements are governed by the Department of Veteran Affairs National Cemeteries Directives. These regulations are not all-inclusive but are intended as a general statement of the official policy of the Adjutant General. Authority for administration of these rules and implementation of the general policy is delegated to the cemetery director or authorized representative.