This was posted by Tim West on the Scott TNMail List. Thought it to be of interest.... Julie ------- Got this from the Washington Post today. ...tim west... Records of Buried Veterans on Web Site Associated Press Monday, April 19, 2004; Page A17 Sally Naporlee turned to the Department of Veterans Affairs to find out more about her grandfather, who served during World War I. After a few weeks' wait, Naporlee learned from the VA that Carmelo Castorina is buried in the national cemetery at Pinelawn in New York. Naporlee, of Spokane, Wash., also learned that her grandfather served with the Army's 161 DB unit, enlisting June 24, 1918, and that he was honorably discharged Dec. 17, 1918. The VA has made it easier and faster for the public to get answers about family history, old war buddies or war heroes. The agency put on the Web 3.2 million records for veterans buried at 120 national cemeteries since the Civil War. The Web site is www.cem.va.gov <http://www.cem.va.gov>. The department's Nationwide Gravesite Locator also has records for some state veterans cemeteries and burials in Arlington National Cemetery since 1999. Joe Nosari, VA's deputy chief information officer for memorial affairs, said the records used to be on paper and microfilm. Private companies have put some of the information online and charged for it, but the VA information is free, he said. The VA's gravesite navigator includes names; dates of birth and death; military service dates, service branch and rank, if known; cemetery information; and grave location in the cemetery. The VA withholds some information, such as next of kin, for privacy purposes. The Web site will be updated daily. Annually, about 80,000 veterans are buried at national cemeteries. The VA also hopes to add records for veterans whose families requested grave markers from the department. Those markers may go to private cemeteries or cemeteries overseas. © 2004 The Washington Post Company -----------------