Compiled by AGS member Michael A. Blackledge using a Gemini generated report
What if descendants of your family could easily obtain access to your genealogy research, just by using their phone to scan a barcode while visiting the ancestor’s cemetery? Wouldn’t that help make your hard work even more meaningful and worthwhile?
QR codes (“Quick Response” codes), a type of two-dimensional barcode, were standardized in 2000 and are becoming ubiquitous in our society. Placing QR codes on tombstones is a growing trend, offering a way to connect a physical memorial with a rich digital tribute.
Options Available for Placing a QR Code on a Tombstone:
There are several ways families can incorporate QR codes into a loved one’s memorial:
Attached Plaques: Many companies offer durable, weather-resistant plaques (often made of stainless steel, ceramic, or aluminum) with an engraved or printed QR code. These plaques can be affixed to existing gravestones, urns, benches, or other memorial objects using strong adhesives.
Engraved Directly: Some monument companies can engrave the QR code directly onto the tombstone itself, usually during the manufacturing process of a new stone. This provides a seamless integration but is less feasible for existing markers.
Ceramic Photos with QR Codes: Some providers integrate a QR code into a ceramic photo that is then attached to the headstone. These ceramic photos are kiln-fired for durability and weather resistance.
Digital Memorial Services: Companies that provide QR code plaques usually offer an accompanying online memorial page. This page can host:
- Detailed biographies and obituaries
- Photo and video galleries
- Audio recordings (e.g., favorite songs, voice messages)
- Family history and lineage
- Guestbooks for visitors to leave messages and share memories
- Links to social media profiles or charitable organizations
- Timelines of significant life events
The process generally involves choosing a provider, creating the digital memorial page with desired content, and then receiving the QR code plaque to attach to the memorial. Many services offer lifetime hosting of the digital content and support for updates.
Why National Cemeteries Do Not Yet Accept This Practice:
National cemeteries have their own rules and regulations. For example, national cemeteries generally permit fresh-cut flowers year-round, but have specific rules for artificial flowers and other decorations.
While the idea of QR codes on gravestones is gaining popularity, national cemeteries, including those managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Arlington National Cemetery, have historically maintained strict policies regarding grave markers. Here are some of the reasons why they generally do not yet accept individual QR codes on tombstones:
Uniformity and Decorum: National Cemeteries prioritize uniformity and a solemn, dignified appearance. Allowing individual families to add custom QR codes could lead to a less cohesive aesthetic and potentially detract from the gravitas of the hallowed grounds.
Policy and Regulation: Changes to policies in these federal cemeteries involve extensive deliberation and approval processes. They need to consider how such technology would be implemented in a respectful, secure, and manageable way across a vast number of graves.
Maintenance and Longevity: Concerns exist about the long-term durability of QR code plaques and the accessibility of the linked digital content. Who would be responsible for maintaining the links and ensuring the online memorials remain active for generations?
Privacy Concerns: While the immediate family might approve the content, there are discussions around privacy in a public space. What information is appropriate for public access in a cemetery setting?
Infrastructure and Management: Managing a vast network of individual QR codes and their associated digital content for millions of interments would require significant infrastructure, moderation, and ongoing support from the VA.
Connection to the Veterans Legacy Memorial:
The Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) is a significant initiative by the Department of Veterans Affairs that is a step in a similar direction, but with a centralized and controlled approach.
Digital Platform: VLM is the nation’s largest digital platform dedicated to the memory of veterans and service members interred in VA National Cemeteries, DoD-managed cemeteries (including Arlington), and other supported cemeteries.
Centralized Information: Each veteran with a VLM page has a profile that can include their service branch, rank, birth and death dates, decorations, and years of service.
Family Contributions: The VLM allows families and the public to submit additional content, such as photos, stories, and military/life milestones, to a veteran’s profile page. This content is reviewed by NCA (National Cemetery Administration) moderators to ensure it conforms to their user policy.
“Your Story, Your Legacy” Initiative: Recently, the VA expanded VLM to allow veterans to pre-submit their own stories, images, and documents, which will be published on their VLM page after their passing and burial eligibility approval.
The key difference is control and centralization. While individual QR codes on tombstones would involve decentralized creation and management by families and private companies, the VLM is a single, government-managed platform. The VA can ensure consistency, long-term accessibility, and adherence to their standards.
There is ongoing advocacy, including bipartisan efforts in Congress, to encourage the VA and Army to allow QR codes on grave markers in National Cemeteries. The discussions revolve around finding a way to allow for more personal tributes while still maintaining the solemnity and order of these sacred grounds, potentially by linking to the existing VLM pages or similar approved digital platforms.
There are numerous vendors available to sell you a QR code to apply to anything, including a tombstone. Check with the cemetery administrator first!
If you’re interested, here’s a short list of a few vendors you might like to check out:
