WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs honored 49 Revolutionary War veterans Sunday at 16 cemeteries and soldiers’ lots across the country, linking the ceremonies to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The observances included a ceremony at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Pennsylvania, where the VA recognized Peter Krumbine, a private in the U.S. Army.
Most delegates to the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on Aug. 2, 1776, nearly a month after its adoption on July 4. The VA scheduled the ceremonies for Aug. 2, 2026, as part of the federal commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“Two hundred and fifty years later, we remain inspired by those who first took up arms in defense of liberty,” VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Sam Brown stated.
The ceremonies were held at national cemeteries and VA-administered burial sites in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The Congressional Cemetery Government Lots in Washington accounted for 18 of the veterans recognized, including Army officers Thomas Blount, Levi Casey, Daniel Hiester and James Jackson, as well as Navy Capt. Hugh G. Campbell.
The Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in New York honored 11 veterans, including Lt. Col. Aaron M. Austin and 2nd Lt. Ichabod Prentice.
Other ceremonies recognized veterans at Bath National Cemetery in New York; Baton Rouge National Cemetery in Louisiana; Beverly National Cemetery in New Jersey; Crown Hill National Cemetery in Indiana; Florida National Cemetery; Fort Bliss National Cemetery in Texas; Fort Winnebago Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot in Wisconsin; Great Lakes National Cemetery in Michigan; Jefferson Barracks and Springfield national cemeteries in Missouri; Marietta National Cemetery in Georgia; Mountain Home National Cemetery in Tennessee; and West Virginia National Cemetery.
The VA’s National Cemetery Administration maintains the Veterans Legacy Memorial, a digital platform containing memorial pages for more than 10 million veterans. Families and others may use the service to preserve biographical information and military histories.
Eligible veterans, spouses and dependents may also qualify for burial and memorial benefits at no cost to their families. Those benefits can include a gravesite, burial services, perpetual care, a government marker, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
The VA is also recruiting volunteers for a National Day of Service planned at participating cemeteries in September 2026. Cemetery locations, dates and start times are available at https://www.cem.va.gov/volunteer/National-Day-of-Service.asp.
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