Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs

The Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs is a senior position within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that directs the National Cemetery Administration, which maintains 125 national cemeteries and provides burial services for veterans of the United States military and eligible family members. The Under Secretary is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The current Under Secretary is William F. Tuerk, who was sworn in on October 28, 2005.cite web | title="VA Official Biography - Public and Intergovernmental Affairs" | url=http://www1.va.gov/opa/bios/biography.asp?id=39 | accessdate= September 20 | accessyear= 2007 ]

In addition to the maintenance and operation of national cemeteries, the Under Secretary is also responsible for their land acquisition, design, and construction. Other memorial programs overseen by the Under Secretary include the provision of headstones, markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates---engraved paper certificates signed by the current president---to honor deceased veterans' service. The Under Secretary also administers federal grants to help states establish state veterans' cemeteries. [cite web | title="US CODE: Title 38,2400. Establishment of National Cemetery Administration; composition of Administration" | url=http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00002400----000-.html | accessdate= September 20 | accessyear= 2007 ]

The position was created by the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, which was signed by President Clinton on November 11, 1998. As a result of the Act, the organization led by a Director, the National Cemetery System, evolved from an agency into an administration led by an Under Secretary when it was renamed to the National Cemetery Administration. [cite web | title="getdoc.cgi" | url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ368.105.pdf | accessdate= September 20 | accessyear= 2007 ] From April 1998 to early September 2000, a series of Acting Directors and Acting Under Secretaries headed the Administration. Two of these were Roger R. Rapp and Robert M. "Mike" Walker, with the latter later being confirmed by the United States Senate. [cite web | title="Former Directors and Undersecretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973 - 2005 - Burial & Memorials" | url=http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hist/frmrleads3.asp | accessdate= September 20 | accessyear= 2007 ] [cite web | title="VA Testimony of Roger Rapp before Congress on May 20, 1999 - Congressional and Legislative Affairs" | url=http://www.va.gov/OCA/testimony/hvac/soi/20MY9940.asp | accessdate= September 20 | accessyear= 2007 ] They were followed by Under Secretaries Robin L. Higgins and John W. Nicholson. [cite web | title="Former Directors & Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973 - 2005 - Burial & Memorials" | url=http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hist/frmrleads4.asp | accessdate= September 20 | accessyear= 2007 ]

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