National Cemetery Administration (2024-present)
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is the third branch of Veterans Affairs alongside the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), operating 158 national cemeteries across 45 states and Puerto Rico. NCA provides no-cost burial and memorial benefits to veterans, their spouses, and qualified family members whether they choose to be laid to rest in a VA national cemetery, a VA grant-funded cemetery, or a private cemetery.
Working with NCA for the past 2 years has been incredibly fulfilling in addition to being, quite literally, a trip. Over the course of the contract so far, our team has traveled to six states (VA, PA, MO, CO, CA, FL) to visit 11 national cemeteries and 4 private cemeteries. We’ve interviewed staff, documented the grounds and available benefits, and spoken with veterans across the country to help NCA spread the word about the benefits they offer and boost utilization among those who have served.
NCA Cemeteries - Honor Forever
MarCom 2025 Honorable Mention
For NCA, Memorial Day is the biggest day of the year. Across the country, VA national cemeteries hold ceremonies and services to honor those who have fallen, whether they’re buried in a VA national cemetery, a VA grant-funded cemetery, or a private cemetery.
This video was shot between both the Alexandria National Cemetery (Alexandria, VA) and the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico (Triangle, VA) over the course of “Memorial May” in 2025, culminating in a three-day shoot covering Quantico’s Memorial Day preparations and ceremony. This was my first time visiting a national cemetery (let alone two), and the thing that immediately struck me in both was the shift in the atmosphere as soon as you enter the gates - immaculate grounds, thousands of markers arranged in perfect rows, and a staff that constantly went above and beyond.
Shot by Bennett Layman and Kyle Reardon. Scripted, edited, and produced by Bennett Layman.
A Guide for Families at Time of Need
To quote the introduction of this video, losing a loved one is never easy, and navigating the burial process can add to a family’s stress during an already difficult time. While NCA’s burial and memorial benefits are incredibly helpful for veterans and their families, they add yet another layer of details and requirements to sift through. With that in mind, we set out to create a comprehensive guide to walk families through what they should expect when working with NCA at time of need.
This video represents one of the largest projects I’ve worked on in my time at DIS. We started in at the National Cemetery Scheduling Office in St. Louis, MO to speak with the NCA employees working to guide families through the scheduling process. From there, we traveled to three more states (FL, CA, PA) to interview cemetery leadership and staff across seven national cemeteries and two private cemeteries over the course of just three months. The resulting video outlines the whole process - scheduling, what to expect at the cemetery on the day of service, headstone/marker selection options, and the perpetual care loved ones can expect in the years to come. The video accompanies a full suite of educational resources designed to help Veteran families understand burial and memorial benefits when they need that information most.
Shot, edited, and produced by Bennett Layman. Scripting by Amy McGonagle, Crystal O’Neill, Maria Fabiano, and Bennett Layman. Narrated by Bennett Layman.