SALISBURY — The Salisbury National Cemetery complex will resume committal services today for families who are interring their loved ones, a news release said.

The Salisbury National Cemetery Complex has remained open for interments and visitation throughout the pandemic. As a matter of health and safety, the cemetery began deferring committal services and military funeral honors on March 23.  

“We are pleased to resume committal services and military funeral honors at Salisbury, Raleigh, New Bern, Wilmington and Danville National Cemeteries,” said cemetery complex director Christopher Morris. “We will also soon be contacting families who chose direct interments to schedule memorial services and military funeral honors, if desired. We appreciate the patience and understanding families have shown during the COVID-19 pandemic and are eager to begin returning to normal operations.” 

Families with interments scheduled on or after today will be offered the option of a committal service at the time of interment. Military funeral honors, customarily provided by the Department of Defense and volunteer honor guards, will be based on local availability.

The Salisbury National Cemetery complex continues to require all attendees to practice physical distancing between individuals not from the same household, ensure all attendees and employees wear face coverings, encourage frequent use of hand sanitizer and ask sick individuals to stay home.  

Families may continue to choose a direct interment without a service and opt for a memorial service later when all restrictions have been lifted.  

Memorial services for veterans and eligible family members who were interred without a committal service between March 23 and Monday will commence in July. A news release said cemetery representatives will contact families in the coming weeks to discuss options and schedule a memorial service, if desired. Families may also contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office or the cemetery directly to schedule a memorial service after June 29.

For more information, visit the National Cemetery Adminstration (NCA) website or contact the Salisbury National Cemeter at 704-636-2661. To make burial arrangements or schedule a memorial service at Salisbury National Cemetery or any VA national cemetery, contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.