The Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs is a senior position within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that directs the National Cemetery Administration, which maintains 150

national cemeteries The following is a partial list of prominent National Cemeteries: Africa Algeria * El Alia Cemetery, Algiers Burundi * Mausolée des Martyrs de la Démocratie, Bujumbura Ghana * Asomdwee Park, Accra * Burma Camp Military Cemetery, Accra ...

and provides burial services for veterans of the United States military and eligible family members. The Under Secretary is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. On April 19, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Matthew T. Quinn to become the next Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs. Quinn was confirmed by the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

on June 17, 2021, by voice vote. He was sworn into office on June 23, 2021 by Secretary Denis McDonough.

History and responsibilities

In addition to the maintenance and operation of national cemeteries, the Under Secretary is also responsible for their land acquisition, design, and construction. Other memorial programs overseen by the Under Secretary include the provision of

headstone A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a stele or marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. It is traditional for burials in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions, among others. In most cases, it has the deceased's name, da ...

s, markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates—engraved paper certificates signed by the current president—to honor deceased veterans' service. The Under Secretary also administers

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s to help states establish state veterans' cemeteries. The position was created by the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, which was signed by President

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on November 11, 1998. As a result of the Act, the organization led by a Director, the National Cemetery System, evolved from an agency into an administration led by an Under Secretary when it was renamed to the National Cemetery Administration. From April 1998 to early September 2000, a series of

Acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad r ...

Directors and Acting Under Secretaries headed the Administration. Two of these were Roger R. Rapp and

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, with the latter later being confirmed by the United States Senate. They were followed by Under Secretaries Robin Higgins and

John W. Nicholson John William "Jack" Nicholson Sr. (born February 22, 1934) is an American retired Brigadier General of the United States Army who was appointed secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) by President George W. Bush in January 2 ...

List of Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs

Originally, the position was Chief Memorial Affairs Director and then director of the National Cemetery System.Former Directors & Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973–Present
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Public Law 105-368 (November 11, 1998) changed the National Cemetery System, headed by a Director, to the National Cemetery Administration, headed by the Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs. The following individuals served as director or under secretary:

References

{{USVA agencies

Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs The Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs is a senior position within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that directs the National Cemetery Administration, which maintains 150 United States National Cemetery, national cemeteries and pr ...