How to Find a Veteran's Grave: A Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you're hoping to visit a Veteran's final resting place or honor their service through a physical or online memorial, several free resources can help. You may be researching your family history, remembering a loved one, or looking for a friend or fellow service member. Whatever your reason, trusted websites and memorial databases can help you locate a Veteran's grave, find an official memorial, learn about their military service, and preserve their legacy for future generations.

This guide explains how to locate a Veteran's grave, search official burial records, and discover physical and online memorials honoring the men and women who served our country.

Step 1: Gather Information Before You Search

Before you begin your search, collect as much information as possible about the Veteran. Even a few details can help narrow your results, including:

• Full name (including maiden name, if applicable)

• Middle name or middle initial

• Date of birth

• Date of death

• Branch of military service

• Rank

• War or conflict served

• State where they lived or may have been buried

Don't worry if you don't have every detail. Most Veteran grave search tools allow you to search with just a name and a few basic facts.

Step 2: Search the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM)

The best place to begin your search for a Veteran's grave is the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM), a free online resource from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Veterans Legacy Memorial honors more than 10 million Veterans and service members buried in national, state, tribal, military, and many private cemeteries. Each memorial page includes burial information and may also contain military service details, photographs, and personal tributes.

Family members and friends can even contribute photos, stories, and memories to help preserve a Veteran's legacy for future generations.

Step 3: Use the Nationwide Gravesite Locator

If you're trying to find a Veteran's burial location, the Nationwide Gravesite Locator is another valuable tool provided by the VA.

This searchable database includes Veterans buried in:

• VA national cemeteries

• State or tribal veterans cemeteries

• Military cemeteries

• Department of the Interior cemeteries

• Many private cemeteries where a government-issued headstone or marker has been placed

Search results often include:

• Cemetery name

• Section and grave number

• Burial date

• Cemetery address

This information can make it much easier to locate a specific gravesite during a cemetery visit.

Step 4: Search Find a Grave

Another excellent resource is Find a Grave, one of the world's largest online cemetery databases. If a Veteran is buried in a private cemetery, Find a Grave may provide information you won't find elsewhere.

Unlike government records, Find a Grave includes information shared by volunteers and family members, such as: 

• Photos of the headstone

• GPS coordinates

• Obituaries

• Family relationships

• Biographical information

• Links to relatives buried nearby

Step 5: Search Military Memorial Websites

Some Veterans are honored on websites dedicated to specific wars or branches of service.

For example, The Virtual Wall honors Americans who died during the Vietnam War. Memorial pages often include photographs, military unit information, awards, and personal stories shared by family and fellow service members.

These websites can help you learn more about a Veteran's service and locate their burial site.

Step 6: Contact the Cemetery Directly

If you know that a Veteran is buried in a specific cemetery but not their exact location, contact the cemetery office. Most cemeteries keep detailed burial records and can confirm whether a Veteran is buried there. Staff members may also help you locate the grave within the cemetery or explain older section maps.

Have the Veteran's full name and any available dates ready before you call.

Step 7: Ask Family Members for Records

Family members often have documents that can help with your search.

Look for:

• Military discharge papers (DD Form 214)

• Funeral programs

• Obituaries

• Death certificates

• Family Bibles

• Old photographs

• Newspaper clippings

These records may include burial information or clues that point you in the right direction.

What If You Can't Find a Veteran's Grave?

Not every Veteran has a known gravesite. Some are buried in private cemeteries that aren't included in every database, while others may have records with missing information or spelling errors. Veterans who do not have a VA-issued headstone or marker might not be included in search results. In some cases, a service member may have been declared Missing in Action (MIA), or their remains were never recovered. Organizations such as the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) continue to work to identify and account for missing U.S. service members from past conflicts. Their records and updates provide valuable information for families seeking answers.

If you can't locate a Veteran's grave, don't assume there isn't a place to honor their service. Many Veterans are remembered through national memorials, virtual memorials, and organizations dedicated to preserving their legacy.

Visit a National Memorial

Across the United States, national memorials honor those who served, including many whose graves are unknown or who never returned home. Some of the most well-known include:

• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., bears the names of more than 58,000 service members who died or remain missing during the Vietnam War.

• The National World War II Memorial, also located in Washington, D.C., honors the 16 million Americans who served during World War II.

• The Korean War Veterans Memorial is located near the Lincoln Memorial in the nation’s capital and is dedicated to those who served during the Korean War.

• The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, Hawaii, honors thousands of service members from multiple conflicts.

• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery is a lasting tribute to unidentified U.S. service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, when open, will honor Americans who served in the Gulf War.

Troubleshooting Tips to Help Your Search

If your first search doesn't produce results, don't give up.

Some Veterans are buried in private cemeteries that aren't included in every database. Others may have records with spelling mistakes, missing middle names, or name changes.

Try these search tips:

• Search using only the last name.

• Leave out the middle name or initial.

• Try different spellings.

• Search by year of death instead of the full date.

• Look in nearby cities or counties.

Even if you never find a gravesite, visiting a memorial or contributing to an online tribute can be a meaningful way to remember a Veteran's service, sacrifice, and lasting legacy. Whether you're searching for a parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, friend, or fellow service member, taking the time to locate their final resting place is a meaningful way to honor their memory.

Related Resources

If you'd like to learn more about honoring a Veteran's service, planning a military funeral, or understanding VA benefits, these related resources from Altogether can help.

Our Complete Guide to National Cemeteries

Understanding Veterans Benefits: A Free Guide for Families

Everything You Need to Know About Veteran Funeral Traditions

What Do VA Death Benefits Cover: Explore Funding Options

How to Write an Obituary for a Veteran