Report Summary

Title: Audit of NCA's Internal Gravesite Review of Headstone and Marker Placement
Report Link: http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-12-02223-98.pdf
Report Number: 12-02223-98
Issue Date: 2/7/2013
City/State: Philadelphia, PA
Bay Pines, FL
Roseburg, OR
Winchester, VA
Beaufort, SC
Marietta, GA
Fort Logan, CO
Santa Fe, NM
Jefferson Barracks, MO
Wood, WI
Zachary Taylor, KY
Riverside, CA
VA Office: National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Report Author: Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type: Audits, Reviews & Evaluations
Release Type: Unrestricted
Summary: US House Committee-Veterans Affairs requested OIG conduct this audit to determine if NCA adequately addressed issues found during its Phase One review of headstones and markers at VA national cemeteries. We found NCA did not have an independent review procedure to identify misplaced headstones and unmarked gravesites, did not provide sufficient resources to conduct a review of this magnitude, and Memorial Service Networks did not provide cemetery directors with updated gravesite layout maps. In July 2012, we issued NCA recommendations to revise its procedures for completing gravesite reviews. NCA subsequently conducted its Phase One follow-up and identified 146 additional errors at four cemeteries. We recommended the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs ensure an improved process for internal reviews with proper resources & follow-up to correct errors, as well as implementing controls to ensure gravesite maps are accurate. The Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs agreed with recommendations and provided action plan.