Veteran Funeral Services
We believe the story of every veteran's life deserves to be shared. We are deeply committed to providing families with exceptional veterans services and can assist you in securing military burial benefits. When it comes time for you to make arrangements for the veteran in your life, know that our staff is both qualified and committed to providing them with the military honors they deserve.
The Veteran
We take great pride in honoring veterans that have passed away. We perform funeral services that pay tribute to their bravery and sacrifice. Providing quality military funeral honors is our small way of thanking veterans for serving our country and fighting for our freedom. When arranging for veterans' burial services, you can rely on us to complete all the necessary paperwork involved in obtaining the military death and burial benefits that are available.
These can include:
- Burial Flag
- Headstone or Marker
- Burial in a National or State Veterans Administration Cemetery
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
Veteran Funeral Honors
On January 1, 2000, Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act was enacted. It became law that the United States Armed Forces must provide all eligible veterans with military funeral honors if requested by his or her family.
There will be an honor guard detail of at least two members of the Armed Forces present for all military funerals. One member will be a representative of the branch of armed forces that the deceased veteran was a part of. At a minimum the honor guard detail will perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of Taps.
Veteran Death Benefits
Below are a few of the common features that military death benefits provide and cover. The veteran may or may not be eligible for these benefits depending on his or her status and situation.
- A gravesite at any of the 136 Veteran Affairs’ National Cemeteries
- As an alternative to the National cemeteries operated by the Veteran Affairs, many states have established state veteran cemeteries. Eligibility is quite similar to the ones outlined by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but may include residency requirements.
- Most veterans are eligible to receive a headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost. The flat markers are available in granite, marble, and bronze. The headstones are available in granite and marble.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
- As already mentioned an American flag is provided, at no cost, to drape over the casket or accompany the urn of the deceased veteran.
- Burial Allowances refer to the flat monetary sum that is paid to cover the Veteran’s funeral costs.
- The casket may transported via a horse-drawn limbers and caissons
- Fighter jets may perform an aerial flyover
- A gun salute. The number of shots fired depends on the veterans rank.
- For funerals of commanding officers, a riderless horse that represents a fallen leader will usually follow the horse-drawn hearse
Providing Exceptional Military Funeral Services
Veterans make many sacrifices in order for the rest of us to enjoy the freedoms we do. The heroism and bravery they demonstrate day in and day out is something we feel should be honored at their funeral service.
Need help honoring your veteran? Reach out to us so we can ensure your loved one receives the military death benefits and funeral honors that he/she deserves.
Sources
Military.com. (2018). Military funeral honors. Retrieved from: https://www.military.com/benefits/burial-and-memorial/military-funeral-honors.html
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2018). Burial Benefits. Retrieved from: https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/burial_benefits/index.asp
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2018). Military funeral honors. Retrieved from: https://www.cem.va.gov/military_funeral_honors.asp
Wikipedia. (2018). Military funerals in the United States. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_funerals_in_the_United_States
