Veterans Burial Benefits: Know the Facts
If you or a loved one served in the United States Armed Forces, you are entitled to specific burial benefits provided by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Burial in a National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is perhaps the most well known national cemetery in the United States, but it is not the only one. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration maintains 120 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico. For a veteran who wishes to be buried in a national cemetery, the VA provides an available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or memorial, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains. Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents of veterans buried in national cemeteries include burial with the veteran and perpetual care. The name of the spouse or dependent and his/her birth and death dates will also be included on the gravestone or memorial at no cost.
Private Cemetery Burial Veterans who prefer burial in private cemeteries include a government headstone or memorial, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no charge to the family. Spouses and dependents are not afforded any VA benefits when buried in private cemeteries. The Memorial Tribute Veterans have the choice of upright gravestones or flush memorials. If a veteran’s family selects a headstone, they will receive an upright granite or marble tribute that measures 13” wide by 42” high. Variations occur in the stone color and marble may contain slight veining. The flush memorials can be granite or bronze. The flush bronze, granite or marble markers are 12” x 24”. The government does not furnish a granite base. In terms of personalization, the headstones and flush markers can include the entire name and the veteran’s rank as well as the birth and death dates. A symbol representing the branch of the service can be included on the tribute. Veterans who prefer cremation, are provided with a cast bronze niche plate that measures 5 ½” x 8 ½”. Some private cemeteries offer special veterans memorial tribute packages that enable veterans and their spouses to select more meaningful memorialization. The package provides a complimentary memorial for the veteran when ordered with a matching spouse memorial and vase. Couples can choose from a selection of personalization options that are not available with the
memorial provided by the United States Veterans Administration. Each memorial can include up to three emblems and four words of inscription. Couples also have the option of designing their memorialization with elegant ceramic portraits. One factor that makes this package program truly unique is that unlike the memorial provided by the VA which can only be ordered at the time of need, the veteran and his or her spouse can prearrange and order the memorial before the time of need and actually see the memorial. When burial or memorialization is in a national veterans’ cemetery, the headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the deceased’s family. When burial is in a private cemetery, to request a government-provided gravestone or memorial, a specific form must be submitted by a designated representative such as a family member, funeral director or cemetery official along with copies of the veteran’s discharge papers. The Burial Flag The draping of the flag on a veteran’s casket began during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s. Those killed in action were carried from the battlefield on a caisson draped with a flag. Today, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides one U.S. flag at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U. S. armed forces. It is furnished to honor the memory of a veteran’s military service to his or her country. When a person is killed in active duty, the flag is provided by his or her branch of the service. This flag cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged.
The proper way to display the flag depends upon whether the casket is open or closed. When the casket is closed, the flag is folded and draped so the union blue field is at the head and over the left shoulder. It is never allowed to touch the ground and it is not to be placed in the grave. At the conclusion of the funeral service, the flag is given to the family of the deceased as a keepsake. Families of veterans can apply for the flag by completing a form provided by the Veterans Administration. Flags are also available at the VA regional offices and U.S. Post Offices. Generally, the funeral director assists families in securing the flag. To contact the VA regional office, call 1-800-827-1000. What is the Presidential Memorial Certificate? In 1962, President John F. Kennedy initiated the Presidential Memorial Certificate Program that provides engraved certificates in tribute to honorably discharged deceased veterans. The program has been continued by every subsequent U.S. President. The program is administered by the VA which prepares the certificates bearing the current President’s signature in expression of the country’s grateful recognition of the veterans’ service in the United States Armed Forces. The deceased veteran’s family and other loved ones are eligible to receive the certificates. Requests for Presidential Memorial Certificates are only accepted in person at the regional VA offices and by U.S. mail. Copies of the veteran’s discharge and death certificate must be provided.
Questions about the Presidential Memorial Program should be directed to 202/565-4964.
Gunfire Salutes Salute by gunfire is an ancient ceremonial tradition that has been symbolic of honor, peace and respect. The firing of guns and cannons dates back to the days of Columbus when the first of a group of ships fired the salute to show that they came in peace. The 21-gun salute is an international practice that also originated at sea but developed over the course of many years. In the beginning, warships fired salutes of seven guns. Although regulations stated that the salute at sea was seven guns, shore batteries were authorized to fire three guns to the ship's one, meaning the shore battery would fire 21 guns. Eventually the ships at sea adopted the salute of 21 guns. During the Civil War, when battlefields would become filled with dead and wounded soldiers, both sides would cease-fire by agreement, clear the battlefield to care for their dead, and wounded. Then each side would fire three rifle shots into the air to signal that they have cared for their dead and wounded and ready to return to battle. This is the reason for the three rifle volleys fired over the casket of a service member. It is to signify that he or she has been cared for and it has evolved into a salute to honor the deceased for their service to our country. Firing three volleys over the casket is one of the highest honors for a deceased military veteran. Placing three spent shell casings into the flag is proof for now
and evermore, that the deceased and his flag have had proper military honors. If the flag is placed into a triangular case with a glass front the casings may be placed on the outside of the flag so they may be seen. Summary Your funeral director or cemetery professional are knowledgeable about the products and services offered to deceased veterans from the Veterans Administration. They can walk you through all of the VA military funeral and memorialization details.