HI HCR246

Urges U.S. Congress and Department of Veterans Affairs to allow third parties with appropriate documentation to order government headstones for unmarked veterans' graves.

Notes that until 2012, third parties could request government headstones, but the Department of Veterans Affairs adopted Code of Federal Regulations §38.632 in 2009 (effective 2012) restricting applications to next of kin or authorized representatives.

Cites the unmarked grave of Private J.R. Kealoha, a Union soldier in the 41st Regiment U.S. Colored Troops, as an example of a veteran who cannot receive a headstone under current policy due to lack of identifiable descendants.

Asserts that the 2009 policy change creates an impossible burden for honoring veterans who served generations ago and are unlikely to have living relatives who can identify them.

Directs transmission of the resolution to the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate, Speaker of the U.S. House, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Hawaii's Congressional delegation.