Veterans Administration Grave Markers:
Have Application Standards Slipped?
by Terry Foenander.
The Veterans Administration department, in Washington, D.C., provides a grave marker or headstone for the grave of any eligible veteran of wars in which United States soldiers, sailors or airmen have participated. There are several conditions under which these markers are provided, and applicants are fully responsible for proper and honest statements in their applications for these items. Some twenty or more years ago, when this author, together with other researchers of Civil War veterans buried in Australia and New Zealand, made applications for such markers, the conditions for such applications were thoroughly stringent in many ways. These controls were in place for good reason, and to prevent the fraud and fake applications that would have thrived, if such conditions were not applied. However, in recent years, these standards seem to have slipped to third world levels, or else have been discarded totally. Correspondence to the Veterans Administration (VA) department, requesting clarification of such standards, and whether these standards are being stringently policed, have brought no response at all. It would seem that, currently, any Tom, Dick or Jim can apply for such markers, without the provision of a single piece of documentation or paperwork to prove the service of a person claimed to be a veteran, and for whom a grave marker is required.
This lax standard has been shown time and time again, especially in the case of a person who professes to be a “researcher” of individuals stated to have been Civil War veterans, buried in Australia and New Zealand. This person, James Mason Gray, a member of the American Civil War Round Table of Queensland, based in Brisbane, has been notorious for claiming more than a dozen, and possibly many more, individuals as being veterans of the American Civil War buried in Australia and New Zealand, yet thorough research, by other researchers, has shown that these were just spurious claims based upon either incorrect oral information, or else based upon the name of such individuals being the same as persons shown to have served in the Civil War. Unfortunately, despite being shown to be nothing more than a charlatan, who never indulges in serious research at all, Mr. Gray has been allowed to continue on his merry way, making these false and incorrect claims, and then applying, in a number of known cases, for grave markers from the VA. It is also very obvious that, in applying for these grave markers, Mr. Gray has indulged in a large degree of dishonesty, in making statements to the VA.
However, there also seems to be a small amount of blame to be apportioned to the VA itself, as standards in checking each application for a grave marker, have slipped to such a degree that approval has been provided to those applying for markers for the graves of persons proven never to have served in the Civil War, or else for those who were Civil War veterans, yet whose graves already have conventional grave markers. How could standards have slipped to such a degree that tax payer’s funds are being channeled into the production of grave markers that should never have been supplied at all? Even the Sons of Confederate Veterans have a much higher standard, to such an extent that the very same person, James Mason Gray, who made successful applications to the VA for these grave markers, had also applied for markers from the SCV for assumed Confederate veterans buried in Australia, but which applications were rejected totally, because of the lack of any documentation to prove that the individual in question was actually a Confederate veteran. Are the persons responsible for the VA applications much more incompetent than those responsible for SCV markers? It would seem so, and perhaps the United States government needs to overhaul the entire VA department, to ensure that such practices are not in place ever again.
The General Information Sheet with the application for a VA grave marker clearly states that a headstone or marker will be furnished for the UNMARKED GRAVE of any eligible deceased veteran. The words “UNMARKED GRAVE” in bold face and upper case are shown as such in the application form, clearly to emphasize that the grave should not be marked in any way, with another marker or headstone. Additionally, it is stated, also in bold face that “A grave is considered marked if a monument displays the decedent’s name and date of birth and/or death, even though the veteran’s military data is not shown.” In a separate column on the sheet, under the heading of WHO IS ELIGIBLE, it is stated clearly, for even a ten year old child to read, that those eligible are “Any deceased veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. A copy of the deceased veteran’s discharge certificate or a copy of other official document(s) establishing military service must be attached.” Further on, in the same paragraph it states that “Service prior to World War I requires detailed documentation, e.g., muster rolls, extracts from State files, military or State organization where served, pension or land warrant, etc.” There are a number of other conditions and statements, which, it would seem, were not adhered to, when Mr. Gray made his applications for grave markers for a large number of persons either not in Civil War service, or else who were the wrong persons named, altogether. The incorrect applications of at least four of these are known – John Henry Graydon, buried in Yarragon Cemetery, in the state of Victoria, Australia; Henry Lainson, buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery, in Victoria, James Coffee, buried in Queensland, and John McBride, buried in New Zealand. There are possibly more grave markers that were obtained through fraudulent means, but, because of a lack of cooperation, we are unable to obtain a full list of the VA markers applied for by Mr. Gray. No doubt, at some later stage in time, some descendant of a person whose grave has been so marked by the arrogant Mr. Gray will find a strange new grave marker at the grave of his ancestor, showing Civil War service, and which the ancestor knows to be incorrect.
Page Created August, 2008.