In a message dated 8/15/0 10:23:38 AM, tiggernut_48@yahoo.com writes: << I called the Delaware County VA, the Philadelphia County VA, and Arlington Cemetery. The woman at the Delaware County VA and I talked each otehr in circles with grave markers and flagholders. It seems grave markers are gravestones that you can order from the VA or that have to be in a regulation format, they are actual small headstones and have to say what war, dates of service and stuff. >> The above info on gravestones is NOT correct!! There are four (4) illustrations of Standard Goverment Headstones & Markers on the back of Form VA 40-1330: 1. Upright Headstone--White Marble or Light Gray Granite Size: 42 ins. long, 13 ins. wide & 4 ins. thick. Weight: Approx. 230 lbs. 2. Bronze Niche--For use if entombment is in a columbarium or mausoleum. Size: 8 1/2 ins. long, 5 i/2 ins. wide & 7/16 ins. thick. Weight: Approx. 3 lbs. 3. Flat Marker--Bronze Size: 42 ins. long, 12 ins. wide & 3/4 ins. rise. Weight: Approx. 18 lbs. 4. Flat Marker--Light Gray Granite or White Marble Size: 24 ins. long, 12 ins. wide & 4 ins. thick. Weight: Approx. 130 lbs. Note: In addition to the headstones & markers illustrated, two (2) specials styles of upright marble headstones & flat markers are available to mark the graves of - those who served with the Union Forces, Civil War, or during the Spanish-American War; & those who served the Confederate Forces, Civil War. It is necessary to submit detailed documentation which supports eligibility. The form you need to ask for is: VA Form 40-1330 If you need to order this form please call: 1 (215) 381-3138 The stone is free but it does cost you about $100.00 for the foundation! In the past 2 years I have ordered 73 of the Flate Granite gravestones for the Veteran's buried at St. Martin's Cemetery in Marcus Hook, PA. The Vets. were from the Revolutionary War, The War of 1812, The Mexican War, The Civil War & The Spanish-American War! At the local Veteran's Affairs Office in Media, Delaware Co., PA. Ask for Wm (Bill) Lovejoy, he is the director. Happy hunting, Helen (DCGS) <<The guy at Arlington Cemetery said that my flagholder with teh eagle on top is a generic marker that all sorts of organizations and families can get, and that they put on the graves. He also said the cemetery keeps no records of them and further, that if as they commonly do the grave marker got thrown in the bushes or knocked over by a lawn mower, it would hve been just put back next to any old grave. The emblem is a blown up image of the little lapel pin that soldiers were given when they left military service. The guy at the Philadelphia VA office said taht my marker is specifically a marker for World War II - and it's a blown up image of the lapel pin that people were given when they left military service. Do people have knowledge of this lapel pin thing? Possible connection to WW II? He also said that family members and organizations have to show him proof that individual people in graves were veterans to order an assortment of flagholders, including these. He said they keep no records, they just prove they qualify and they get their flagholders. Once upon a time they did keep records, which were on index cards and then transferred to computer, and tehse are in the basement in a filing cabinet and one must come in if one wants to look at them. Finally, he said that most likely, that flagholder that he says is for some WWII vet ende dup on my great grandfather's grave because a lawnmower knocked it over or it got thrown in the bushes, and they put it back in front of any old grave. I'd appreciate any further info anyone has. I did e-mail VFW and the American Legion, and the national VA administration. I got a reply back from the latter with the phone numbers of the Delaware County and Philadelphia VA offices that I just got through calling. Well, I had specifically asked for those phone numbers. But nothing at all about the description of the flagholder that I provided. I'd appreciate any further information anyone has. Once again, the flagholder in question has an eagle on top of the circular disk, which is quite different from any other picture of a flagholder I've come across. It has an outer circle, with "U.S.War Veteran" across the top, and at the bottom a crest with stars and stripes. In the center is a star, with actually another circle inside it that has "U.S." in it. On a part under the circular disk that attaches to the pole, is a small square with crossed bars on it. And supposedly, it is a blown up image of the lapel pin that at some point in history people were given when they left the military. I would think when that time in history was would narrow down when the person had to have served in the military or else when the flagholder was first put out. In front of whoever's grave. Yours, Dora Smith>>