For Our Veterans
Planning a Funeral for a Veteran
We honor those that served our country and take pride in the options that we offer to the families of our veterans. Not only will our funeral home staff help with all military funeral arrangements — we will also procure an American Flag for every eligible veteran.
Below are some resources that will be helpful to those families planning a funeral for a veteran.
Military Funeral Honors — What to Expect
The rendering of final honors to a departed military member is one of the most profound demonstrations of honor, respect, and gratitude. However, there is a process that must be followed in order to take advantage of this benefit. Here is what to expect when military honors are requested.
Once eligibility has been ascertained and military service has been verified, your funeral director can help you with the rest of the process.
Federal law states that every eligible veteran must receive a military funeral honors ceremony, including the folding and presenting of the U.S. flag. A veteran's family must request the flag in advance by completing an Application for U.S. Flag for Burial Purposes with a copy of the veteran's discharge papers.
The playing of Taps is required as part of every military funeral honors ceremony, should the family request it. These ceremonies must be requested in advance. Whether the service entails a gravesite visit or not, the honors will include a rifle salute, folding of the flag, presentation of the flag, and Taps.
A Presidential Memorial Certificate is an engraved paper certificate signed by the current president that honors the memory of the deceased veteran. A family may apply for this at any VA regional office or by U.S. mail using VA Form 40-0247.
When you attend the service, a flag will be draped over the coffin. If there is a chapel service, the flag will be pulled away from the head of the coffin so it can be open for viewing. The full honors ceremony includes a military rifle salute as a final tribute to the service member.
For more information about arranging military funeral honors for your loved one, please contact one of our knowledgeable funeral directors. We are always here to help and honored to serve those who served our country.
The following steps and resources will help guide you through the process of arranging a veteran's funeral. Our funeral directors are here to assist you every step of the way.
- Verify eligibility — The first step is to verify that the deceased is an eligible veteran using the checklist provided by the Veterans Administration. A DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) will be required.
- Choose a cemetery — A veteran may be buried in a military or private cemetery. Based upon eligibility, burial may be arranged at a national cemetery, Arlington, a National Park Service cemetery, or a state veterans cemetery. Our funeral directors will assist with all arrangements.
- Private cemetery burial — If buried in a private cemetery, our funeral directors can help set up military arrangements. You will need to provide proof of eligibility (DD Form 214). To seek reimbursement for funeral and burial expenses, complete VA Form 21P-530.
- Headstone or marker — When burial is in a national or state veterans cemetery, the cemetery officials order a headstone using information provided by the next of kin. For a private cemetery, submit VA Form 40-1330 to request a government-provided headstone or marker.
- Do not send original documents — When supplying proof of eligibility or other official records, never send original documents as they will not be returned.
- Honor guard — We can arrange for military funeral honors by contacting the honor guard representative for the branch of the military in which the deceased served.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate — Family members may receive this certificate by submitting VA Form 40-0247 upon the death of their loved one.
"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."
— Joseph Campbell