§1488 Removal of Remains

Summary

The Secretary in charge may move remains from a military reservation cemetery that is closed to another cemetery. The Secretary may also move the remains of a service member whose last service ended honorably from a temporary grave or from an abandoned grave or cemetery into a national cemetery. For Medal of Honor recipients buried in an Army national military cemetery who have no known next of kin, the Secretary of the Army may allow transfer to another cemetery. With the Veterans Affairs Secretary’s agreement, the Army Secretary may also move such a person into an Army national military cemetery from a national cemetery system site. No move under these rules can happen unless the person asking proves there is no known next of kin and agrees to pay all costs for the move and reburial. Army National Military Cemetery — a specific cemetery identified elsewhere in the law. Covered member of the armed forces — a Medal of Honor recipient who has no known next of kin.