Veteran  Funeral Service Columbus Ohio

What are Military Funeral Honors and a Committal Service

Military funeral honors include: The playing of “Taps,” and uniformed service members who properly fold and present the United States flag to the grieving family. These flags are typically given to the deceased’s next of kin or close friend.

National Cemetery Administration Burial Benefits

Burial benefits available include a grave site in any of the VA national cemeteries 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, at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances. 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 buried in a national cemetery include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran's headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran.

The Veterans family should make funeral or cremation arrangements with a funeral provider or cremation office. Any item or service obtained from a funeral home or cremation office will be at the family's expense.

For more information please visit:  www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits

Who Qualifies for Burial Benefits

You may be eligible for Veterans burial allowances if you’re paying for the burial and funeral costs and you won’t be reimbursed by any other organization, like another government agency or the Veteran’s employer. You must also meet all of these requirements.

One of these relationships or professional roles describes your connection to the Veteran:

• You’re the Veteran’s surviving spouse (Note: We recognize same-sex marriages.), or
• You’re the surviving partner from a legal union (a relationship made formal in a document issued by the state recognizing the union), or
• You’re a surviving child of the Veteran, or
• You’re a parent of the Veteran, or
• You’re the executor or administrator of the Veteran’s estate (someone who officially represents the Veteran), or 
• You’re a family member or friend who isn’t the executor of the Veteran’s estate, or 
• You’re a representative from a funeral home, cemetery, or other organization 

The Veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge, and one of these circumstances must be true:

• The Veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability (a disability related to service), or
• The Veteran died while getting VA care, either at a VA facility or at a facility contracted by VA, or
• The Veteran died while traveling with proper authorization, and at VA’s expense, either to or from a facility for an examination, or to receive treatment or care, or
• The Veteran died with an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension pending at the time of death, and they would’ve been entitled to benefits before the time of death, or
• The Veteran died while receiving a VA pension or compensation, or
• The Veteran died while eligible for compensation or a VA pension at their time of death, but instead received full military retirement or disability pay

Or:

• The Veteran had been getting a VA pension or compensation when they died, or
• The Veteran had chosen to get military retired pay instead of compensation

Note: We’ll also provide an allowance for the cost of transporting a Veteran’s remains for burial in a national cemetery.

Who Is Eligible To Be Buried In A National VA Cemetery?

Veterans, Service Members, Spouses, And Dependents May Be Eligible For Burial In A VA National Cemetery, As Well As Other Benefits,

If They Meet One Of The Requirements Listed Below:

A veteran who received an Honorable Discharge or a Service Member who died while on active duty may be eligible for a headstone or marker if they meet certain requirements.

A veteran who served in wartime.

A veteran who died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941

A veteran who served in peacetime and left military service before June 27, 1950, after serving at least one enlistment or because of a disability that was caused - or made worse - by their active military service.

A veteran who served in the Selected Reserves, or served in the military forces of the Philippines while in service of the United States and died on or after April 25, 1951.

A service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.

The spouse or minor child of a veteran, even if the veteran died first. In some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a veteran

Veteran being buried in Private Cemetery is eligible to receive reimbursement allowance for

Do you know where your or a loved one's DD214 Form in? 

It is essential to have the Veteran's DD214 Military Record available in applying for burial and other benefits. 

If you're not able to located DD214 please visit the email link below. 

www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records

To find out if your deceased loved one qualifies,

visit:  www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp

www.usa.gov/burial-survivor-benefits

www.va.gov/burials-memorials

To request a headstone, grave marker, or niche marker, fill out the VA Form 10-1330

www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/headstones-markers-medallions

Send To:  Department of Veteran Affairs
  5109 Russell Road
Quantico, VA 22134-3909

 For more information regarding VA burial benefits and memorial items, visit

www.va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance 

or

Contact the VA office at 1-800-827-1000.