Burial Benefits
Burial in National Cemeteries
VA National Cemeteries
Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the gravesite, a headstone or marker, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care. Many national cemeteries have columbaria or gravesites for cremated remains.
Veterans and servicemembers are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. An eligible veteran must have been discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable and have completed the required period of service. Persons entitled to retired pay as a result of 20 years creditable service with a reserve component are eligible. A U.S. citizen who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in a war also may be eligible. A 1997 law bars certain persons convicted of federal or state capital crimes who are sentenced to death or life without parole from being buried or memorialized in one of the VA national cemeteries or in Arlington National Cemetery.
Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans and of service-members also may be buried in a national cemetery. Certain adult children incapable of self support due to physical or mental disabil-ity are eligible for burial. If a surviving spouse of an eligible veteran marries a nonveteran, and remarriage was terminated by annulment, divorce or the death of the nonveteran, the spouse is eligible for burial in a national cemetery.
Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. Funeral directors or others making burial arrangements must apply at the time of death. Reservations made under previous programs are honored. By law, the Department of Defense is the government agency responsible for providing military funeral honors. Honors are normally arranged by the family or funeral home; staff at national cemeteries may make referrals to military units or volunteer groups. The National Cemetery Administration normally does not conduct burials on weekends. A weekend caller, however, will be directed to one of three VA cemetery offices that remain open during weekends to schedule burials at the cemetery of the caller’s choice during the following week.
NC State Cemetery System
For information about the NC State Cemetery System - click here or call Veterans Services @ (252) 728-8440.
Headstones and Markers
VA provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere in the world and of eligible dependents of veterans buried in military post, state veteran or national cemeteries. Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright granite and upright marble types are available to mark the grave in a style consistent with the cemetery. Niche markers also are available for identifying cremated remains in columbaria. Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the de-ceased, branch of service, and the years of birth and death. Optional items that may be inscribed are military grade, rank or rate; war service such as "World War II"; months and days of birth and death; an approved emblem of one’s belief; and text indicating valor awards. When burial is in a military post, state veteran or national cemetery, the headstone or marker is ordered through the cemetery, which will place it on the grave. Information on style, inscription and shipping can be obtained from the cemetery. When burial occurs in a cemetery other than a military post, state veteran or national cemetery, the headstone or marker must be applied for from VA. It is shipped at government expense. VA, however, does not pay the cost of placing the headstone or marker.
To apply, complete VA Form 40-1330 and forward it to Director, Memorial Programs Service (403A), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420. Forms and assistance are available at VA regional offices. For information regarding the status of an application, write to the Director, Memorial Programs Service (403A), or call 1-800-697-6947. VA cannot issue a headstone or marker for a spouse or child buried in a private cemetery. Twenty-year reservists generally are eligible for a headstone or grave marker.
Presidential Memorial Certificates
Presidential Memorial Certificates express the nation’s recognition of a veteran’s service. Certificates bearing the signature of the President are issued honoring deceased veterans with honorable discharges. Eligible recipients include next of kin and other loved ones. The award of a certificate to one eligible recipient does not preclude certificates to other eligible recipients. The veteran may have died at any time. To establish honorable service, a copy of a document such as a discharge, form DD-214, must accompany requests for a certificate. VA regional offices can assist in applying for certificates.
Military Funeral Honors
Upon request, the Department of Defense will provide military funeral honors for the burial of military members and eligible veterans. A basic military funeral honors ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. A funeral honors detail to perform this ceremony consists of two or more uniformed members of the Armed Forces, with at least one member from the service in which the deceased veteran served. Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve are eligible for military funeral honors. Also eligible are former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable, former members of the Selected Reserve who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service and departed under conditions other than dishonorable, and former military members discharged from the SelectedReserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. The Department of Defense maintains a toll-free telephone line (1- 877-MIL-HONR) for use by Funeral Directors only to request honors. Family members should inform their funeral directors if they desire military funeral honors for a veteran.
Burial Flags
VA provides an American flag to drape the casket of a deceasedindividual who:
1. served in any war,
2. died while in the active military, naval, or air service after May 27, 1941,
3. served after Jan. 31, 1955,
4. died while a member of the Selected Reserve,
5. served at least one enlistment or had been discharged or released from active service for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty,
6. was entitled to retired pay for service as a Reservist at the time of death, or would have been entitled to retired pay, but for the fact that the individual was under 60 years of age,
7. was a member or former member of the Selected Reserve who completed at least one enlistment or period of initial obligated service as a member of the Selected Reserve, or was discharged before completion of the initial period for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Veterans separated from the service must have been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. After the funeral service, the flag may be given to the next of kin, close friend or associate of the deceased veteran. Burial flags may be obtained at VA regional offices, national cemeteries and most local post offices.
For more information,
contact:
Carteret County Veterans Services Officer
613 Cedar Street
Beaufort, NC 28516
Tel: 1-252-728-8440
FAX: 1-252-728-8582
Internet:ccvso@coastalnet.com
