How to Arrange for Burial at a Veteran's Cemetery
- 1). Pick the veteran’s cemetery in which to bury your loved one. If there is more than one cemetery available, you should go see all of them in person and pick the one that you like the best. You will need to give the name of the cemetery to the funeral home. They will have to contact the cemetery directly on your behalf. The cemetery will then tell them if there is a space available for your loved one.
- 2). Get all paperwork together. You will need to have a certified copy of the veteran’s DD-214, or discharge papers, his birth certificate and social security card. The DD-214 is proof that your loved one was actually in the military and in what capacity he served. In certain instances, a veteran may not be entitled to burial in a veteran’s cemetery, such as dishonorable discharge or only serving in a reserve capacity. The cemetery and funeral home will know this right away and help you decide on alternate arrangements. The birth certificate and social security card are needed for identification and obituary information.
- 3
In ground burial
Decide on which type of internment you want for your loved one. If the cemetery you choose has different burial options available, you need to decide which one your loved one would prefer. The usual options are in ground, niche or vault, and scattering of ashes. The options available will also depend on space at the cemetery. - 4). Figure out the proper honors ceremony for your loved one. If the deceased was still in the military at the time of death, he is entitled to the full honors ceremony which includes taps being played, the folding of the flag, and the gun salute. If he was no longer in the military, he will get the smaller honors ceremony without the gun salute.
- 5). Set a date. Veteran’s cemeteries do burials at certain times. The funeral home will coordinate the date and time with the cemetery based on your wishes. Make sure everyone who is going to attend gets to the cemetery in plenty of time. Veteran’s cemeteries are very strict about the time limit for services.
- 6). Sign paperwork at the cemetery. On the day of the burial, the cemetery director will have paperwork that you need to sign. He will go over everything and give you the paperwork to fill out to get the grave marker. He will also answer any other questions you have and complete the process of having your loved one buried at that veteran’s cemetery.
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