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The following are some of the most frequently
asked questions. We will be updating this section on regular
basis.
What are the costs to the family for services provided
by the National Cemetery?
There is no charge for any service provided by a National
Cemetery. We provide the gravespace, a graveliner, open
and close the grave and supply an upright headstone for
flat marker. The National Cemetery provides all perpetual
care of the grave..
What type of marker is provided.
For full casket sites an upright granite headstone will
be ordered and placed on the gravesite. A flat granite marker
will be used for the 3’ X 3’ in-ground cremation
sites. The columbarium sites will be marked with granite
niche markers.
What is inscribed on the marker?
Mandatory items on the marker for a veteran are: name of
decedent, branch(es) of service, years of birth and death.
Optional items inscribed at Government expense may include:
religious emblem, grade, rate or rank and war service(s).
The following awards are inscribed at government expense:
Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross,
Air Force Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart. Complete
month and day for dates of birth and death may be used if
desired by next of kin. Space permitting, an additional
inscription is available at government expense. Examples
of additional inscriptions are terms of endearment or quotations.
How does one arrange for burial in the National
Cemetery?
Because there are no advanced arrangements to be made, when
death occurs the next of kin of the decedent should contact
a funeral home, providing a copy of the veteran’s
discharge document or whatever military service-related
documents are available. The funeral director will then
contact the National Cemetery office to arrange interment.
The complete name of the veteran, along with military rank,
service and social security numbers and any VA Claim number;
dates of service; date and place of birth and death should
also be furnished. If all of this information is not available,
as much as possible should be provided. Because the military
service of each veteran must be verified, failure to provide
the required data may result in a delay of burial.
Who is eligible to be buried in the National Cemetery?
• Most veterans who have been discharged from active
duty military service under other than dishonorable conditions
are entitled to burial in a National Cemetery.
• There are time restrictions for enlisted personnel
who began their active service after September 7, 1980 and
officer personnel who entered service after October 17,
1981. They must have completed 24 months of continuous service
or the full period for which called to active duty, whichever
is shorter.
• Veterans discharged due to a hardship discharge
or a service-connected disability prior to completing 24
months of continuous service
• Any member of the US Armed Forces who dies while
serving on active duty
• Any person who has retired from the Army or Air
National Guard or from the Reserves
• The spouse of an eligible active duty member or
veteran, even if the veteran or active duty member is not
interred in a National Cemetery Minor dependent children
of an eligible active duty member or veteran who are unmarried
and under age 21 have entitlement to National Cemetery burial.
A dependent child who has reached age 21 and is pursuing
a course of instruction in an approved educational institution
retains their eligibility until they reach age 23. The veteran’s
or active duty member’s unmarried adult children who
are incapable of self-support due to a permanent disability
sustained prior to reaching age 21 can be buried in the
National Cemetery. The adult child’s next of kin must
provide the following documents to the cemetery at the time
of burial: (a) a statement of the decedent’s marital
status, (b) a statement of the degree of dependency; and
(c) a statement from the attending physician as to the nature
and duration of the disability.
Can the spouse be interred before the veteran at
a National Cemetery?
If the spouse of an eligible veteran passes away before
the veteran, the spouse may be interred at a National Cemetery.
Space for the veteran will be reserved in the same site.
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