§1488 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary in charge can move remains from a military reservation cemetery that is closed or will be closed to another cemetery. The Secretary can also move the remains of a service member whose last military service ended honorably (whether by death or separation) from a temporary burial site or an abandoned grave into a national cemetery. The Secretary of the Army can allow moving the remains of certain honored service members between Army National Military Cemeteries and National Cemetery System sites, but only if the person asking proves there is no known next of kin and agrees to pay all removal and reburial costs. Army National Military Cemetery — the cemeteries listed in section 7721(b) of this title. Covered member of the armed forces — a service member who has been awarded the Medal of Honor and has no known next of kin.

Title 10, §1488

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If a cemetery on a military reservation, including an installation cemetery, has been or is to be discontinued, the Secretary concerned may provide for the removal of remains from that cemetery to any other cemetery.

(b)With respect to any deceased member of an armed force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned whose last service terminated honorably by death or otherwise, the Secretary may also provide for the removal of the remains from a place of temporary interment, or from an abandoned grave or cemetery, to a national cemetery.

(c)(1)The Secretary of the Army may authorize the removal of the remains of a covered member of the armed forces who is buried in an Army National Military Cemetery from the Army National Military Cemetery for transfer to any other cemetery.

(2)The Secretary of the Army, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, may authorize the removal of the remains of a covered member of the armed forces who is buried in a cemetery of the National Cemetery System from that cemetery for transfer to any Army National Military Cemetery.

(3)A removal of remains may not be authorized under this subsection unless the individual seeking the removal of the remains—

(A)demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Army that the member of the armed forces concerned has no known next of kin or other person who is interested in maintaining the place of burial; and

(B)undertakes full responsibility for all expenses of the removal of the remains and the reburial of the remains at another cemetery as authorized by this subsection.

(4)In this subsection:

(A)The term “Army National Military Cemetery” means a cemetery specified in section 7721(b) of this title.

(B)The term “covered member of the armed forces” means a member of the armed forces who—

(i)has been awarded the Medal of Honor; and

(ii)has no known next of kin.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 14885:2160 (as applicable to armed forces).July 15, 1954, ch. 507, § 10 (as applicable to armed forces), 68 Stat. 480. The words “national cemeteries, other installation cemeteries, or” are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “section 7721(b)” for “section 4721(b)”. 2014—Pub. L. 113–291 designated first sentence of existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted heading, designated second sentence of existing provisions as subsec. (b), inserted heading, and substituted “the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned” for “his jurisdiction”, and added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§1488 Removal of remains

Summary

Title 10, §1488

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Citations & Metadata