Burial in a National Cemetery/ Va Cemetery:
Service members who die while on active duty and veterans discharged
under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for burial
in a National Cemetery. With certain exceptions, service beginning
after September 7, 1980 , as an enlisted person, and after October
16, 1981 as an officer, must be for a minimum of 24 consecutive
months or the full period for which the person was called if they
were entitled to retired pay at the time of death, or would have
been entitled had they not been under the age of 60.
Certain Filipino veterans of World War II, to include Philippine
Commonwealth Army veterans and veterans of organized guerilla
forces mat be eligible if the veteran, at the time of death,
was a citizen
of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence in the United States who resided in the United States.
Persons convicted of a Federal or State crime, and sentenced to death
of life imprisonment without parole, are barred by law for being buried
or memorialized in a National Cemetery or in Arlington National Cemetery.
Spouses and minor children of service members and eligible veterans
also may be buried in a National Cemetery. Minor children are
those under 21 years of age, or under 23 years of age if pursuing
a course
of instruction at an approved educational institution. Unmarried
adult children of eligible persons who are physically or mentally
disabled
and incapable of self-support also are eligible for burial.
If a surviving spouse of an eligible veteran marries a non-veteran.
and that subsequent
marriage was terminated by the non-veterans death or dissolved
by annulment or divorce, the surviving spouse is eligible for
burial at a National
Cemetery.
Grave sites in National Cemeteries cannot be reserved. The Funeral
Director or the next or kin makes interment arrangements for
an eligible veteran or dependent at the time of need by contacting
the National
Cemetery in which burial is desired. Reservations made under
previous programs are honored. National cemeteries normally do
not conduct burials on weekends. However, weekend callers will
be directed to
one of those VA cemetery offices that remain open during weekends
to schedule burial for the following week.
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY:
Arlington National Cemetery is operated by the department of
the Army. Eligibility for burial is more limited than other
National Cemeteries. Information on Arlington National Cemetery
burial may
be found on the internet http://www.mdw.army.mil.fs-a01.htm,
or by writing to superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery,
Arlington, VA. 22211 or calling 703-695-3250
Headstones and Markers:
Upon request, the VA furnishes headstones or markers at no charge
for graves on cemeteries around the world for service members
who die while on active duty and for eligible veterans. The VA
as lo provides headstones or markers for spouses and dependents
buried in
a Military, State or National Cemetery, but not for those
buried in private cemeteries. Flat bronze, granite or marble
markers and upright granite or marble headstones are available,
Niche markers
are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of
cremated remains. To apply and obtain specific information you
may request
it from this site or contact your local funeral home.
Presidential Memorial Certificates:
Certificates signed by the President of the United States of America are issued upon request to recognize the military service of honorably discharged deceased veterans. Next of kin may request these certificates in person at any VA regional office or by mail: Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration (403A), 810 Vermont Ave. NW Washington, DC. 20420-0001. Request should include a COPY of of the discharge document (DD214) and the clear address the certificate should be sent to. You may also request one from this site under contact information.
Military Funeral Honors:
Upon request, the Department of Defense will provide military
funeral honors for the burial of military members and eligible
veterans. A basic military funeral honors ceremony consists
of the folding and presentation of the United States flag
and the playing
of taps by a bugler ( if available) or by electronic recording.
Honors consist of two or more uniformed members of the armed
forces, with at least one member from the service in which
the deceased
veteran served. The Department of Defense maintains a toll-free
telephone line(1-877-MIL-HONR). Family members should contact
their local funeral director to request military honors. For
more information
contact the military funeral honors web page at http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.
Burial Flag:
The VA will provide a United States flag to drape the casket
or accompany the urn of the deceased veteran who's discharge was
other than dishonorable. Burial flags may be obtained at the VA
regional offices, National Cemeteries and most local post offices.
Only one flag is authorized for each veteran.
REIMBURSEMENT OF BURIAL EXPENSES:
The VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2000.00 if the
veterans death is service-connected. In some cases, the VA
will also pay
the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran
to the national cemetery nearest the home of the deceased that
has available grave sites. In such cases, the person who bore
the veterans
burial expenses may claim reimbursement from the VA. There is
no time limit for filling reimbursement claims in service-connected
death cases.
The VA will pay a $300.00 burial expense allowance for veterans who,
at time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation
or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt
of military retirement pay. Eligibility also may be established
when death occurs
in a VA facility, a nursing home under VA contract or a state
veterans nursing home. Additional costs of transportation of
the remains may
be paid. In non-service-connected death cases, claims must be
filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.
The VA will pay $300.00 plot allowance when a veteran is not buried
in a cemetery that is under U.S. Government jurisdiction under
the following circumstances: the veteran was discharged from active
duty
because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of
duty; the veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would
have
been except for receiving military retired pay; or the veteran
died in a VA facility. The $300.00 plot allowance may be paid to the
state
if a veteran is buried without charge for the cost of a plot
or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran
burials. Burial
expenses paid by the deceased employer or a state agency will
not be reimbursed. For information on monetary benefits, call 1-800-827-1000
Additional information about burial and memorial benefits may be
obtained at any National Cemetery, or regional office on the internet
at http://www.cem.va.gov.
To check the status of an application for a headstone or marker,
Call 1800-697-6947
