Veteran Funeral Benefits

Honoring Veterans with Compassion

At Henry Funeral Home, we believe in recognizing and honoring the sacrifices made by our veterans. This commitment extends to offering support, guidance, and assistance to veterans and their families during difficult times. We understand that the passing of a veteran, whether service-related or not, is a moment that deserves special attention and recognition. Families of veterans should know that there are veteran funeral benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs  that can help offset the price of a funeral and honor the service and sacrifice of their loved one. We talk about these benefits and how to tell if your late loved one is eligible for them here.

Determining Veteran Eligibility

Establishing veteran eligibility for burial benefits, death benefits, and memorial items often involves verifying military service using the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, commonly known as DD Form 214. In some cases, if the DD Form 214 is unavailable, alternative documents demonstrating honorable service can be used. We can also assist in obtaining replacement DD Form 214 documents when needed. There is more information and instructions from the Department of Veterans Affairs on their website. 

Eligibility Criteria

A service member must be eligible to receive veteran funeral benefits. Eligibility may vary based on the specific benefit being applied for; however, it is generally based on the following criteria: 

• Active duty service members or those in the Selected Reserve. 
• Past service members who served on active duty, unless they were dishonorably discharged at the end of their service. 
• Those who completed a minimum of one enlistment period or term of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserves and were not dishonorably discharged. 
• Former military members who were discharged from the Selective Reserves due to a disability resulting from or aggravated by their service in the line of duty. 

Generally, those veterans who are not eligible include: 

• Those who were dishonorably discharged or who are ineligible for veteran’s benefits due to their character of service.
• Those who never reported to their induction station after receiving orders or were never inducted into service.
• Anyone discharged from the Selected Reserve prior to completion of one enlistment period of obligated duty for a reason other than a disability resulting from or aggravated by the line of duty.
• Those convicted of a Federal or State capital crime and sentenced to death or life imprisonment. 

Veterans Burial Allowance (Monetary)

A burial allowance, sometimes referred to as a "veteran's death benefit," is available to help offset burial, funeral, and transportation expenses related to a veteran's death. This allowance can be applied for after incurring these expenses, and we can provide guidance on eligibility and application processes. The amount of the allowance depends on factors such as the veteran's date of death and whether the death was service-related. You can also find more information regarding burial allowances here.

Veterans Burial Benefits (Not Monetary)

Gravesite

If a veteran meets eligibility requirements, they can be buried in a state or national cemetery.  This is also applicable for their spouse, minor children, and in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children.  This generous benefit includes the gravesite itself, the opening and closing of the grave, a government grave liner (outer burial container), and perpetual care and maintenance of the grave.  If a veteran is cremated, there are options for burial or placement of the remains in a niche.  Also covered is a headstone or niche marker.  Georgia has two options for veterans and their families: Georgia National Cemetery in Canton and Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville.

Burial Flag

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a United States flag at no cost to the next-of-kin of a deceased veteran. This flag is presented during the funeral or memorial service and serves as a keepsake to honor the veteran's memory. Eligibility requirements for receiving a burial flag are based on factors such as wartime service, date of death, and honorable discharge.

To receive a burial flag, your funeral home can complete and submit the Application for a United States Flag for Burial Purposes, the VA Form 27-2008.

Veterans Headstones

The VA offers free Government headstones or markers for eligible veterans, even if there is already a private headstone in place. These markers can be selected in various styles, including flat or upright. Eligible veterans choosing cremation can also receive niche markers for placement in a columbarium. Some fees associated with placement in private cemeteries may be the responsibility of the veteran's family.   

Military Funeral Honors

A military funeral is a special type of funeral that honors military personnel who have served their country. Families of late veterans may wonder if every veteran gets a military funeral. Typically, yes: all eligible veterans are entitled to standard Military Funeral Honors (MFH) during their funeral or memorial service. This ceremony includes traditions for military honors that are deeply meaningful and symbolic to our service members and their loved ones. The elements of the standard funeral with military honors typically include the following components: 

• Uniformed Detail: Every eligible veteran is entitled to have, at a minimum, two uniformed service members present at their ceremony, typically representing the veteran’s branch of service. You may be able to request more service members depending on the veteran’s rank. It is also possible to have additional service members to serve as pallbearers, if desired.  
• Playing of Taps: Taps has been an element of standard military funeral ceremonies since 1891 and holds deep meaning for many people. Taps will be performed by a live bugler when possible, but may also be played using a high-quality recording depending on the circumstances. A recording may be played over a traditional music player or a ceremonial bugle, which is an electronic device designed to fit inside the bell of a bugle to mimic a live performance. 
• Flag Ceremony: The U.S. flag is an important symbol to help honor the memory of a service member and symbolize the contributions they’ve made. The ceremonial folding and presentation of the flag is included as part of the MFH tradition. For a casketed service, the flag is draped over a closet casket before being folded. While Taps plays, the flag is folded into the tricorn shape composed of 13 folds, designed to represent the original 13 colonies.  For a service with an urn, the flag will already be folded and carried next to the urn in a manner similar to ceremonies involving casketed remains. When the urn comes to its place of rest, the flag will be unfolded and ceremoniously held over the urn. It will then be folded again before the next part of the service. Once the flag is folded, it will be presented to the family or other representative of the Veteran. The flag is intended to be a keepsake for the family and a long lasting tribute to remember the sacrifices made by the Veteran and their family. Many families choose to display the flag in a special flag case. There are also flag case urns designed to hold cremated remains while protecting the flag. 

In addition to the standard MFH, some veterans may qualify for additional honors based on their rank. Full MFH may include elements such as a military flyover, color guard, and a rifle salute. For a funeral with military honors, the required documentation must be submitted as soon as possible to provide sufficient time to organize resources. Your funeral home or funeral director can help with completing the correct forms and getting them submitted to the correct agency. You can also reach out to the Department of Defense with questions regarding the Military Funeral Honors program on their website. 

Now that you’ve learned about how to arrange a funeral for a veteran, you can start planning a ceremony for your loved one today. Henry Funeral Home can guide you through the process of choosing the best way to honor your veteran, whether that be through a traditional funeral with military honors or a personalized celebration of life. Reach out to learn more about our services.