Avid amateur genealogist for 30yrs. Born & raised in West Virginia, currently living near Atlanta, GA for many decades.

Family lines I'm researching include: Gnegy, Hauser, Roth, Winters, Slaubaugh, Christman, Waltz, Fredlock, Wiles from Garrett County, MD and Preston County, WV.

Also: McConkey, Brand, Sommerville, Reed, Ross, Bussey, Law, Gaston, Burnside from Harrison, Lewis & Monongalia Counties in WV and Fayette & Greene Counties in PA.

A title is only used for veterans who retired from service or who were killed during service. That is why on the marker the title is not before the name.

Dept of Defense rules are that a person can only use a military title if they meet one of the following parameters:

1. Passed away in combat while serving their country
2. Retired after 20 or more years of military service
3. Passed away while active in the military

If they served at any time, they can have a headstone with the rank listed BELOW the name and not PART of their name, unless they meet one of the above qualifications.

Most military members I know do not consider their rank to be part of their name once they leave the military. The military marker lists rank but it does not list it in front of their name. I am glad to put their rank in their Bio Section or Inscription Field.