Burial Benefits
Burial in a National Cemetery
The most important thing for a veteran to remember is that burial benefits to include the flag and the military funeral honors cannot be provided without a copy of your military discharge. Please make sure you have your discharge and that someone in your family knows where it is kept!
The Dayton National Cemetery and the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio are the two National Cemeteries in Ohio. 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. Gravesites in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries cannot be reserved in advance.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented the pre-need burial eligibility determination program to assist anyone who would like to know if they are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. VA is promoting pre-need eligibility determinations to encourage Veterans and their eligible family members to plan in advance to use VA burial benefits that Veterans have earned through their military service. Planning in advance for a Veteran’s or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time. Veteran families will have increased confidence that their loved ones are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery at their time of need.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery has very restricted eligibility requirements which should be reviewed before deciding to be buried there. Local funeral directors are able to arrange those burials, but if any additional assistance is necessaryplease contact our office.
For more information, please see the Arlington National Cemetery Website.
Burial Allowance
The most important thing for a veteran to remember is that burial benefits to include the flag and the military funeral honors cannot be provided without a copy of your military discharge. Please make sure you have your discharge and that someone in your family knows where it is kept!
A burial allowance is available from the Department of Veterans Affairs if you have paid for the veteran’s funeral and have not been reimbursed by a government agency or some other source and at least one of the following exist:
- the Veteran died because of a service-related disability
- the Veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death
- the Veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay
- the Veteran died while hospitalized by VA, or while receiving care under VA contract at a non-VA facility
- the Veteran died while traveling under proper authorization and at VA expense to or from a specified place for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care
- the Veteran had an original or reopened claim pending at the time of death and has been found entitled to compensation or pension from a date prior to the date or death
- the veteran died on or after October 9, 1996, while a patient at a VA-approved state nursing home.
Amount of Burial Allowance
Non-service-connected Death
The VA will pay up to $700.00 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths that occurred on or after October 1, 2011 if hospitalized by the VA at the time of death. The VA will pay $300.00 toward the burial and funeral expenses and $700.00 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery) for deaths that occurred on or after October 1, 2011. 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.
Service-connected Death
VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001 that have been determined to be service connected.
Memorial Benefits
Burial Flags
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 each other than dishonorable discharged. In most cases the funeral director will provide the flag. Only one flag is provided for each veteran and is normally given to the next of kin. A copy of the veteran’s military discharge must be provided to the funeral director.
The law allows the VA to issue one flag for a Veteran's funeral. It cannot be replaced it if it is lost, destroyed, or stolen.
Headstones/Medallions
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 and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone, VA may also furnish a headstone or marker to supplement the graves or a Medallion to be affixed to the privately purchased headstone.
Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. Bronze niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains. The style chosen must be permitted by the officials in charge of the private cemetery where it will be placed.
NOTE: Placement of the marker is at the applicant’s own expense.
Presidential Memorial Certificate
A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased Veterans. Eligible recipients include the next of kin and loved ones of honorably discharged deceased Veterans. More than one certificate may be provided.
Military Funeral Honors
Funeral Directors in Ashland County will arrange for Military Funerals Honors to be held at the grave side services if so desired. This would include the rifle volley and presentation of the flag to the next of kin and the playing of Taps. VFW and American Legion members around the county provide these services at no charge to the family.