City requires permit to fix damaged veteran headstones at Miami cemetery
MIAMI - Sometimes Larry Leitner finds buried veterans' headstones.
"There's somebody interned here," Leitner said while dusting off the
"It's buried so far under the ground."
Veteran headstones at Miami's city cemetery go back as far as the Spanish-American war.
Dusting them off is all he can do.
"Graves here underneath this monstrosity that the city has not taken care of," Leitner said of a tree blocking a veteran's headstone.
CBS News Miami asked if he can get rid of the tress blocking a veteran's headstone.
"No. It's city property."
Leitner is the Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter in Miami Beach. He says since the city of Miami owns the cemetery, he says the city requires him to get a permit to repair, restore and straighten out the headstones of veterans.
"When you look at the format they want you to do," Leitner said. "It's as if you're renting a tent for a fair."
Jacqui May's Great aunt served in World War II and is buried at the Miami City Cemetery. She lives about an hour and half north of the cemetery. So she'd like some kind of care taken of the headstone.
"It's a big task," May said. "Especially with the areas that are dedicated to our veterans. I think it's really important that we take a little bit more time and care to do things in a respectful manner."
Veterans organizations put little American flags over the headstones over Memorial Day weekend. Leitner says city officials told them the flags had to be gone within 24 hours of placing them there. CBS News Miami asked him what would have happened if they didn't get rid of the flags.
"They would not permit us to come back in the cemetery again," Leitner said.
"The bureaucracy obviously overcomes the needs of the families."
CBS News Miami called the city's parks and recreation department about how someone could restore a headstone. They referred us to city hall. A spokesperson said:
"Each headstone is the property of the deed owner," said a spokesperson. "Therefore, we are not permitted to clean or manage the upkeep of the headstones. We believe they would need the permission of the deed holder to have approval to rectify them."
We followed up with the city on whether the VFW needs a permit to work on the headstones. A spokesperson said it is necessary for all that someone erecting, cleaning or repairing memorials obtain a permit.
The city is still looking into how the headstones were damaged. CBS News Miami didn't get an answer on why the flags had to go.
Here is some important information about VA headstone policies:
If ancestors and family members are long gone, how would someone get approval to restore headstones for veterans?
It is VA's solemn duty to provide Veterans with burial and memorial benefits that honor their service, including headstones for those who are interred outside VA national or grant-funded cemeteries. Family members seeking to restore a Veteran's headstone can do so by calling VA at 800-697-6947.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: For information on ordering a headstone or replacement, including who is eligible and who else can apply on the Veteran's behalf, please visit: Veterans Headstones, Markers, And Medallions | Veterans Affairs (va.gov). Criteria for headstone replacement can be found here: Requesting A Replacement Government Headstone Or Marker | Veterans Affairs (va.gov).
What roles does VA have in caring for headstones?
VA encourages all cemeteries with Veteran interments to provide the proper care and conditions that befit all those within the cemetery and honor all with a dignified final resting place. While maintenance and care of the cemetery is the responsibility of those who own and operate the cemetery, VA provides instructions on cleaning government-furnished headstones and markers. VA does not have authority to direct the upkeep or operating guidelines of private or municipality-run cemeteries. VA can replace a headstone or marker based on certain criteria.
Who owns veterans' headstones in public cemeteries? Veterans' cemeteries?
Government-furnished headstones and markers remain Federal property. The upkeep and care of a cemetery, including landscaping conditions, is the responsibility of those who own and operate the facility.