Attention Fellow List Members: Eastern Kentucky has been unfortunate to have had a mass ordering of tombstones from the Veteran's Affairs in Washington, D.C. wherein several veterans and non-veterans of the Confederacy or of any war at all now have two and sometimes even three headstones for the same man. Several complaints have been lodged here at the Knott County Historical Society from those who have the misconception that our Society has something to do with this. We do not! The complaints arise from the fact that many cemetery owners and family members have not been contacted in regards to this practice here in Knott County. Recently some stones placed in the Carr Memorial Cemetery are now taking up two distinct plots to allow a place for an additional tombstone for men who already have tombstones, one of which already had a military designated tombstone. Some complaints have been registered with us here at the Knott Society wherein Confederate markers have been placed on Union soldiers' graves much to the chagrin of the families involved. This abuse is a flagrant disregard for the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs' policy which specifically states the following: "Do not complete this application if the veteran's grave is already marked with a private monument even though the veteran's military data is not shown. Applicant must certify the grave is unmarked and a Government headstone or marker is preferred to a privately purchased headstone or marker. This restriction applies to companion markers. Companion markers identify two or more decendents buried, or to be buried, in the same or adjoining graves. A grave is considered marked if a monument displays the decendent's name and dates of birth and/or death, even though the veteran's military data is not shown. Applicant may be anyone having knowledge of the deceased. Headstones or markers furnished remain the property of the United States Government and may not be used for any purpose other than to honor the memory of the decedent for whom the headstone or marker is issued. A Government provided headstone or marker may not be used as a footstone or to supplement a private monument, or be affixed to an existing inscribed monument. I certify the headstone or marker will be installed on the veteran's unmarked grave at no expense to the government and all statements made are true and correct to the best of my knowledge." - Application for standard Government Headstone or Marker 40-1330 Veterans' Affairs. Please consider the above before signing any forms allowing a tombstone to be ordered in your name. If you have a complaint, please register it with or send photos of the duplicated and triplicated stones to: Office of Memorial Programs Dept. of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20420-0001 http://www.cem.va.gov/hm.htm U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers Washington Office 2470 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4601 Fax: (202) 225-0940 Somerset Office 551 Clifty Street Somerset, KY 42501 Phone: (606) 679-8346 Toll Free: (800) 632-8588 Fax: 678-4856 Pikeville Office 806 Hambley Boulevard Pikeville, KY 41501 Phone: (606) 432-4388 Fax: 432-4262 Hazard Office 601 Main Street Hazard, KY 41701 Phone: (606) 439-0794 Fax: 439-4647 U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. [email protected]