Opening day was dedicated November 11, 2005. Actual interments began in December 2005.

The State of California owns and operates the cemetery. The Department has one civil service employee on-site as the Cemetery Administrator. All other services necessary to operate and maintain the cemetery are under contract including opening/closing of graves, interment of remains, committal service coordination, grounds keeping, landscaping, general maintenance, janitorial services, etc.

NCVC is located in Shasta County, near the community of Igo, approximately ten miles southwest of the City of Redding.

NCVC offers veterans - and their eligible spouses and dependents - four types of burials:

• For casketed remains:
  • Traditional In-Ground
  • Lawn Crypt (pre-placed in-ground vault)
• For Cremains (cremated remains):
  • In-Ground
  • Columbarium Niche

The eligibility requirements are the same as those for burial in national cemeteries operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Basically that means any honorably discharged veteran, the veteran’s spouse and dependent children. There is NO requirement to be a resident of California.

There is no cost for interment of eligible veterans – this includes a headstone/niche marker. Please note that all other funerary costs must be borne by the veteran or family (funeral expenses, caskets, transportation, clergy, etc). For a complete description of burial benefits offered to veterans, please refer to the USDVA website at www.cem.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.

By law, there is a $500 fee for interment of eligible non-veteran spouses and dependents.

Yes. It is important to make this desire known at the first interment in order to ensure that an appropriate gravesite is used..

No. Interments are performed in the next available site based upon the type of interment requested (traditional in-ground, lawn crypt, in-ground cremains or columbarium).

Yes. The Administrator has published a form to establish eligibility prior to need. The form is available here. Veterans may complete a benefits eligibility packet in advance of actual need. This process will entail verification of eligibility and should be kept on hand by the veteran and family to facilitate the process at the time of death. This procedure will be repeated at time of death to ensure there has been no change in eligibility.

Yes. The Administrator has published a form to establish eligibility for these families. The form is available here. This first step will confirm eligibility for interment in the cemetery. Following confirmation of eligibility, arrangements can be made to schedule the interment and a committal service (if desired). Although you may confirm eligibility on your own, your funeral director will be able to provide valuable assistance in the process, particularly if a committal service is desired.

The NCVC and the California National Guard are working cooperatively to ensure that every veteran is provided military honors. The NCVC hosts a two-person National Guard permanently assigned to the cemetery. This team is working with local members of the National Guard and veteran service organizations to schedule "burial details" for interments.

Yes. Contact the Cemetery Administration office to learn how to donate money for either a specific purpose or to help defray the general costs of maintenance. Call 866-777-4533.

Memorials are allowed on the cemetery grounds. The Administrator will be establishing regulations and procedures on how to propose memorials. These procedures should be published after the opening. An advisory committee will be established to review proposals and to make recommendations to the Administrator and Secretary regarding approval of such proposals. All memorials will be required to keep with the design of the cemetery.

Yes, as long as you meet all other eligibility requirements.

No, as long as the spouse or eligible dependent meet eligibility requirements they may be buried in the cemetery before the veteran.

There is an information kiosk available in the visitor center that will allow you to identify the burial site.

No, the NCVC is being operated to USDVA standards and chapels are not allowed on cemetery grounds. All funeral services must be held prior to arrival at the cemetery. Only committal services are allowed on-site at the cemetery. Committal services take the place of the graveside service.

No, all headstones are standard headstones issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; this uniformity is important to maintain the distinct nature of a veterans cemetery.

The cemetery does not provide a chaplain for the committal service. Your family minister is encouraged to lead the service in the committal shelter; however graveside services are not allowed. The committal service replaces the graveside service due to safety concerns. Because gravesites are assigned consecutively, cemetery staff may be working in the area in which your loved one will be interred.

No, all funeral costs must be paid by the veterans estate or family. Only the interment (and headstone) are provided free for eligible veterans. (Spouses and dependents have a $500 fee for interment in the Northern California Veterans Cemetery.)

Veteran burial benefits may vary based upon individual circumstances. For example some costs may be paid if the veteran the veteran died because of a service-related disability OR the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death OR the veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay OR the veteran died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

The family should contact their County Veteran Services Office for advice on their specific circumstances.

Or you may obtain specific information about these benefits and how to apply for the benefits at the USDVA Burial Benefits website or by calling 1-800-827-1000.

You can obtain specific information about these benefits and how to apply for the benefits at the USDVA Burial Benefits website or by calling 1-800-827-1000.

Official copies of your DD214 are maintained at the National Personnel Records Center. You can request a copy by mail, fax or on-line.

Mail: Complete a “Standard Form 180” and mail it to:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

Fax:Complete a SF-180 and fax to 314-801-9195. The Center will respond in writing by U.S. Mail.

On-line:Veterans or next-of-kin of deceased veterans can use the eVetRecs web site .

Additional information may be found at NPRC-Requesting Military Records.

A DD 214 or equivalent Report of Separation is required. Proof of honorable service (other than training service) must be provided to determine eligibility for burial in NCVC. If the veteran died without obtaining a copy of the DD 214, the next of kin may contact their County Veteran Service Office or a national veteran service organization to obtain assistance in expediting the process to obtain a copy of the DD214. In extreme cases where a DD214 (or equivalent) cannot be obtained, contact the Cemetery Administrator or your County Veterans Services Officer.

You may apply for the flag by completing VA Form 2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes. You may get a flag at any VA regional office or U.S. Post Office. Generally, the funeral director will help you file this form and obtain a flag prior to the funeral.

This depends upon the individual circumstances of your service. You are eligible if you meet the basic definition of veteran: “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other then dishonorable” (38 USCS § 101) or “who died in the active military, naval or air service” or “Any member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces, and any member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, whose death occurs under honorable conditions while such member is hospitalized or undergoing treatment, at the expense of the United States, for injury or disease contracted or incurred under honorable conditions while such member is performing active duty for training, inactive duty training, or undergoing that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States (38 CFR § 38.620(b)). Contact the cemetery or your County Veterans Services office for assistance.

A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans. Eligible recipients, or someone acting on their behalf, may apply for a PMC in person at any VA regional office or by U.S. mail only. Requests cannot be sent via email. There is no form to use when requesting a PMC. Please be sure to enclose a copy of the veteran's discharge and death certificate. Please submit copies only, as we cannot return original documents.

If you would like to request a Presidential Memorial Certificate, or if you requested one more than eight (8) weeks ago and have not received it yet, we ask that you either:

1. Fax your request and all supporting documents (copy of discharge and death certificate) to: (202) 565-8054, or
2. Mail your request and all supporting documents using either the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial mail service, such as one of the overnight or express mail delivery services, to:

Presidential Memorial Certificates (41A1C)
Department of Veterans Affairs
5109 Russell Road
Quantico, VA 22134-3903

Bring the error to the attention of the Cemetery Administrator.

No, however you may contact the United States Navy Mortuary Affairs office toll-free at 1-888-647-6676, and select option 4. Or contact the Department of the Navy for information. Active duty members and veterans buried at sea may be eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker as a memorial marker.