Honoring our Veterans in death: Burial in a National Cemetery

Brought to You by - Katherine M. Wheat, Associate, Wilson Legal, PC

“Looking across to protect America. And all carried with them memories of a family that they hoped to keep safe by their sacrifice.” - George W. Bush, Arlington National Cemetery, Memorial Day 2005

While most Americans are familiar with Arlington National Cemetery, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration maintains 155 national cemeteries in 42 states and Puerto Rico. Most Veterans qualify for burial benefits, which include a gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker, or medallion, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Cremated remains are inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.

If you or your loved one would like to be buried in a national cemetery, there are a few steps you can go ahead and take to prepare. Actual burial arrangements will be made after death, and the VA does not reserve grave space; however, upon request, the VA will go ahead and make eligibility determinations for burial in advance of need. This is called a pre-need determination of eligibility and obtaining it early may make a time of grief a little easier for you or your surviving family members.

Information about eligibility may be found at www.va.gov/ burials-memorials/eligibility/. To apply you will need your Social Security number; date and place of birth, military status, and service history (ex. service dates, discharge character, rank); discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents). If you do not have your discharge papers, you may request them by submitting a military records request. Information about this process may be found at www. va.gov/records/get-militaryservice-records/.

The above application process applies to all national cemeteries except Arlington National Cemetery and the United States Soldiers and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. For burial in either of these Department of the Army cemeteries, you will need to call (877) 907-8585.

Even if you are not interested in burial at a national cemetery or state veteran cemetery, you may still want to honor your Veteran by obtaining a headstone, marker, or medallion, a burial flag, and/or a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Additionally, you can request an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible Veteran. Your funeral director should be able to assist you in obtaining or incorporating these honors into the Veteran’s funeral and burial. Another helpful resource is Military One Source, which is an official U.S. Department of Defense website available at www. militaryonesource.mil.

The death of a loved one can be such a stressful time and planning ahead to request burial benefits and honors for a Veteran may help to avoid some of that stress. It also provides the Veteran with an opportunity to voice his or her wishes for a funeral, burial, or cremation. To all of those who served – Thank you!