Veteran’s Benefits

The Veteran’s Administration provides the Flag of The United States of America to drape the casket of a veteran and a person entitled to retired military pay. After the funeral service the Flag may be given to the surviving spouse of the veteran, or in lieu there of, the closest next of kin of the deceased veteran. The VA will also issue the Flag on behalf of a service member who was deemed missing in action and later to be presumed dead. Flags are issued from VA regional offices, VA medical centers, VA convalescent care facilities, national cemeteries and any U.S. Post Office.

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The Veteran’s Administration provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of United States veteran’s anywhere in the world and for eligible dependents of veterans buried in national, state veteran or military cemeteries.

Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright granite and upright marble types are available to mark the grave in a style consistent with the place of burial. Bronze niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for the inurnment of the deceased veteran’s cremated remains.

Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the deceased veteran, the years of birth and death, and branch of service. Optional items that also may be inscribed at the expense of the VA are: military grade, rank or rate, war service such as World War II or the name of the deceased veteran's spouse.

Months and days of dates of birth and death, an emblem reflecting one’s religious belief, awards of valor and The Purple Heart. Additional items may be inscribed at private expense with the approval of the VA.

When burial is in a national, state veteran or military cemetery, the headstone or marker is ordered through the cemetery, inscription, shipping and placement can be obtained by the cemetery or by a private source.

When burial occurs in a cemetery other than a national, military post or state veteran’s cemetery, the headstone or marker must be applied for from the VA. It is shipped at the government’s expense. The VA however does not pay for the cost of placing the headstone or marker on the grave (Please note: most counties situated within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provide an allowance for the headstone or marker’s placement).

The VA cannot issue a headstone or marker for a spouse or child buried in a private cemetery. Twenty year reservists without active duty service are eligible for a headstone or marker, if they are entitled to military retired pay at the time of their death.

To memorialize an eligible veteran whose remains are not available for burial, the VA will provide a plot and memorial marker in a national cemetery. The memorial marker is the same as that used to identify a grave except that the mandatory phrase “IN MEMORY OF” precedes the authorized inscription. The memorial marker is available to memorialize eligible veterans or deceased active duty members whose remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and scattered. This memorial marker may be provided as well for placement in a cemetery other than a national cemetery. In such a case, the VA supplies the marker and pays the cost of shipping, but does not pay for the plot or placement of the marker. Only a relative recognized as the next of kin may apply for this benefit directly from the VA.

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Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care. Many national cemeteries have columbaria for the inurnment of cremated remains or special gravesites for the burial of cremated remains. Headstones or markers and their placement are provided at the expense of the United States Government.

Veterans and armed forces members who die while on active duty are eligible for burial in one of the VA’s 114 national cemeteries around the nation. An eligible veteran must have been discharged or separated from active duty under honorable or general conditions and have completed the required period of service. Persons entitled to retired pay as a result of 20 years creditable service with a reserve component are eligible. A United States citizen who has served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in a war also may be eligible.

Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans and of armed forces members also may be buried in a national cemetery. A surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who married a non-veteran, and whose remarriage was terminated by death or legal divorce of the non-veteran, is eligible for burial in a national cemetery with the eligible veteran.

Gravesites in national cemeteries may not be reserved. Funeral directors or others making burial arrangements must apply at the time of death. Reservations made under previous programs shall be honored. The National Cemetery System normally does not conduct burials on weekends. A weekend caller, however, will be directed to one of three strategically located VA cemetery offices that remain open during weekends to schedule burial at the cemetery of the caller’s choice during the following week.

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The Presidential Memorial Certificate is a parchment certificate with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation’s recognition of the veteran’s service. The veteran’s name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of The President of The United States of America. Certificates are issued in the name of honorably discharged, deceased veterans. Eligible recipients include: the next of kin as well as other relatives and close friends of the deceased veteran. The award of a certificate to one eligible recipient does not preclude certificates to other eligible recipients. The veteran may have died at any time in the past. The local VA regional office generally originates the application for The Presidential Memorial Certificate. The next of kin also may request a certificate (Please call our funeral home at anytime for this service and  we will make an application right away for you). Requests should be accompanied by a copy of  the deceased veteran’s honorable discharge from duty (Form: DD214).

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The Veteran’s Administration will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000 if the veteran’s death is service connected. The VA will also pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery nearest the home of that veteran that has available grave space. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran’s burial expenses may claim reimbursement from the VA. The VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for the veteran who, at the time of death, who was entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay. Eligibility also is established when death occurs in a VA facility or a nursing home with which VA has contracted. The additional costs of transportation of the deceased veteran may also be reimbursed. There is NO TIME LIMIT for filing reimbursement claims of service-connected deaths. In other type causes of death, claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.

The VA will pay a $300 plot allowance when the deceased veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under U.S. Government jurisdiction if the veteran is discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. If the deceased veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would have been in receipt of compensation but for receipt of military retired pay, or if the veteran died while being hospitalized by the VA. The plot allowance is not payable solely on wartime service.

If the veteran is buried without charge for the cost of a plot or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran’s burials, the $300 plot allowance may be paid to the state. Burial expenses paid by the deceased veteran’s employer or a state agency, will not be reimbursed.

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