Except for Arlington National Cemetery (which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army) and a few other exceptions noted in NAVMEDCOM- INST 5360.1, national cemeteries are under the jurisdiction of the Chief Memorial Affairs Director, Department of Memorial Affairs, Veterans' Administration, Washington, DC.

NATIONAL CEMETERY CLASSIFICATIONS

There are three classifications of national cemeteries:

1. Open (Active)-Cemeteries with grave spaces available.

2. Closed (Inactive)-Cemeteries without grave spaces available.

3. New (Inactive)-Cemeteries planned but not yet opened.

ELIGIBILITY FOR INTERMENT
Remains of the following naval and former naval members may be buried in any open national cemetery except at the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia:

Navy or Marine Corps member who was serving on active duty at time of death (other than active duty for training).
Former Navy or Marine Corps members who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Any member of a Navy or Marine Corps Reserve organization whose death occurred under honorable conditions while the individual was
1. On active duty for training (including authorized travel to and from active duty training),

2. on inactive duty training (including authorized travel to and from such training), or

3. hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the government for injury or disease incurred or contracted during the period covered by 1 and 2, above.

Members of the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps whose death occurred under honorable conditions while they were

1. attending an authorized training camp or authorized training cruise,

2. performing authorized travel to and from that camp or cruise, or

3. hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the government of the United States for injury or disease incurred or contracted during the period covered by 1 and 2, above.

Surviving spouse and minor children of individuals covered above.

(For further information on interment eligibility at Arlington, consult NAVMEDCOMINST 5360.1.)

At the discretion of the Chief Memorial Affairs Director, unmarried adult children of eligible individuals may be buried in any open national cemetery (except Arlington) if they were totally disabled either physically or mentally before attaining the age of 21. The Chief Memorial Affairs Director may also authorize the burial of unremarried widows or widowers or eligible deceased members whose remains were either lost at sea or buried at sea not at their own volition, or who were officially determined missing or missing in action and subsequently administratively declared dead for the purpose of terminating missing or missing-in-action status.

HONORS
Military honors for interment in national cemeteries are the responsibility of the member's service. Honors for services at Arlington National Cemetery are coordinated by the superintendent of the cemetery with BUPERS or the CMC, as appropriate.

VAULTS
A metal, asphalt, or concrete vault may be procured at the NOK's expense, if it is preferred. If a vault is privately procured, the superintendent/director must be notified of the outside dimensions to ensure the proper preparation of the grave. The contractor furnishing the vault must also provide necessary equipment and personnel for placing the vault in the grave before the funeral service and for placement of the vault lid after the service.

VIEWING REMAINS
National cemeteries no longer have facilities for viewing remains. If the NOK desires a viewing before interment, the remains must be consigned to a local funeral director.

SCHEDULING
Unless extraordinary circumstances exist with respect to the condition of remains, interment in national cemeteries will not be made on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays.