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Regardless of what type of services you are planning, whether it be burial in a cemetery or service
if eligible. We will assist you in getting the necessary information to the proper branch of detail.
Military veterans and their dependents are entitled to a variety of benefits depending on their
circumstances. Contact the Veterans Affairs office to determine what benefit can be claimed and
then gather the information requested.
How Much Does VA Pay?
Service-Related Death. The VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or
after September 11, 2001. The VA will pay up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 10,
2001. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the
deceased may be reimbursed.
Nonservice-Related Death. The VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses and a
$300 plot-interment allowance for deaths on or after December 1, 2001. The plot-interment
allowance is $150 for deaths prior to December 1, 2001. If the death happened while the veteran
was in a VA hospital or under VA contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for
transporting the veteran’s remains may be reimbursed.
Military Funeral Honors:
The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of
the United States flag to the veterans' family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed
by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.
The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the
veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail or a Standard
Honors Team Detail.
At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased
veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality
recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the
veteran/family.
Who is eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
Who is not eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
How do I establish veteran eligibility?
The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than
dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard
Form 180 and sending it to:
National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
You may download form 180 here
Is anyone else eligible to receive funeral honors?
Yes. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as members of a Uniformed
Service, are also eligible to receive funeral honors.
For NOAA personnel, eligibility is established using NOAA Form 56-16, Report of Transfer or
Discharge. If the family does not have a copy of the NOAA Form 56-16, it may by obtained by
contacting the Chief, Officer Services Division, NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center at (301)
713-3453, ext 102. or by writing:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commissioned Personnel Center
Chief, Officer Services Division (CPC1)
1315 East-West Highway, Room 12100
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
For PHS personnel, funeral honors eligibility is established using PHS Form 1867, Statement of
Service (equivalent to the DD Form 214). If the family does not have a copy of the Statement of
Service, it may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Coordinator for the Commissioned Corps
at (301) 594-3064 or writing:
Division of Commissioned Personnel/HRS/PSC
Attention: Privacy Act Coordinator
5600 Fishers Lane
4-36
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Burial Markers:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a
Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any
cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. For eligible veterans that died on or
after Nov. 1, 1990, VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already
marked with a private headstone or marker. When the grave is already marked, applicants will
have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or marker, or a new device (available
spring 2009).
Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are
available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial.
Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.
When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military
post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on
inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.
Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker unless
they are buried in a national cemetery, state veteran's cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.
Note: There is no charge for the headstone or marker itself, however arrangements for placing it in
a private cemetery are the applicant's responsibility and all setting fees are at private expense.
Burial Flag:
A United States flag is provided, 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. VA will furnish a burial flag for
memorialization for:
Who Is Eligible to Receive the Burial Flag?
Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use during the funeral
service. When there is no next-of-kin, VA will furnish the flag to a friend making request for it. For
those VA national cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags, families of veterans buried in these national
cemeteries may donate the burial flags of their loved ones to be flown on patriotic holidays.
if eligible. We will assist you in getting the necessary information to the proper branch of detail.
Military veterans and their dependents are entitled to a variety of benefits depending on their
circumstances. Contact the Veterans Affairs office to determine what benefit can be claimed and
then gather the information requested.
How Much Does VA Pay?
Service-Related Death. The VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or
after September 11, 2001. The VA will pay up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 10,
2001. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the
deceased may be reimbursed.
Nonservice-Related Death. The VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses and a
$300 plot-interment allowance for deaths on or after December 1, 2001. The plot-interment
allowance is $150 for deaths prior to December 1, 2001. If the death happened while the veteran
was in a VA hospital or under VA contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for
transporting the veteran’s remains may be reimbursed.
Military Funeral Honors:
The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of
the United States flag to the veterans' family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed
by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.
The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the
veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail or a Standard
Honors Team Detail.
At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased
veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality
recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the
veteran/family.
Who is eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other
than dishonorable. - Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial
obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than
dishonorable. - Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred
or aggravated in the line of duty.
Who is not eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Any person separated from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions or whose
character of service results in a bar to veteran's benefits. - Any person who was ordered to report to an induction station, but was not actually
inducted into military service. - Any person discharged from the Selected Reserve prior to completing one term of
enlistment or period of initial obligated service for reasons other than a disability incurred or
aggravated in the line of duty. - Any person convicted of a Federal or State capital crime sentenced to death or life
imprisonment.
How do I establish veteran eligibility?
The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than
dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard
Form 180 and sending it to:
National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
You may download form 180 here
Is anyone else eligible to receive funeral honors?
Yes. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as members of a Uniformed
Service, are also eligible to receive funeral honors.
For NOAA personnel, eligibility is established using NOAA Form 56-16, Report of Transfer or
Discharge. If the family does not have a copy of the NOAA Form 56-16, it may by obtained by
contacting the Chief, Officer Services Division, NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center at (301)
713-3453, ext 102. or by writing:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commissioned Personnel Center
Chief, Officer Services Division (CPC1)
1315 East-West Highway, Room 12100
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
For PHS personnel, funeral honors eligibility is established using PHS Form 1867, Statement of
Service (equivalent to the DD Form 214). If the family does not have a copy of the Statement of
Service, it may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Coordinator for the Commissioned Corps
at (301) 594-3064 or writing:
Division of Commissioned Personnel/HRS/PSC
Attention: Privacy Act Coordinator
5600 Fishers Lane
4-36
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Burial Markers:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a
Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any
cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. For eligible veterans that died on or
after Nov. 1, 1990, VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already
marked with a private headstone or marker. When the grave is already marked, applicants will
have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or marker, or a new device (available
spring 2009).
Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are
available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial.
Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.
When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military
post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on
inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.
Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker unless
they are buried in a national cemetery, state veteran's cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.
Note: There is no charge for the headstone or marker itself, however arrangements for placing it in
a private cemetery are the applicant's responsibility and all setting fees are at private expense.
Burial Flag:
A United States flag is provided, 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. VA will furnish a burial flag for
memorialization for:
- A veteran who served during wartime
- A veteran who died on active duty after May 27, 1941
- A veteran who served after January 31, 1955
- A peacetime veteran who was discharged or released before June 27, 1950
- Certain persons who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25,
1951 - Certain former members of the Selected Reserves
Who Is Eligible to Receive the Burial Flag?
Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use during the funeral
service. When there is no next-of-kin, VA will furnish the flag to a friend making request for it. For
those VA national cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags, families of veterans buried in these national
cemeteries may donate the burial flags of their loved ones to be flown on patriotic holidays.
Bridges Funeral Home, Inc. 3035 Atlanta Highway, Athens, Georgia 30606 (706) 543-2551 ♦ info@bridgesfuneral.com Our Family Serving Yours Since 1926 |