There is an option of selecting a burial at no cost, from any of the VA national graveyards, for eligible troupers, military spouses and military dependents. In military funeral benefits, burial proceedings comprised of grave-site, graveliner, opening, modification and also closedown of the grave, gravestone and care of lifetime as part of national site, if eligible.
Military funeral benefits can also include burial flag and honors for military funeral for veterans. Also Presidential Memorial Certificates can also be demanded by members of military family.
Options Of Burial For The Deceased
Currently the VA has 122 nationwide graveyards, from which 83 are opened for new funerals and 21 graveyards are accepting only burnt corpses. Options of burial are only limited to those which are available at particular graveyards but might also include in-ground coffins, burned corpses placed in ground or at a scatter garden.
Funeral Arrangements Of National Graveyards
At top national graveyards, relatives and children of dead members of military service are provided with top treatment, and they are also rewarded for their service for the country. If the relative of an. ex- military servicemen marries again, they are still entitled for burial in any national graveyard.
Child burial of the dependent is set to the age of maximum of 21 years for single child, and 23 years if child is full time student. If in any case before the age of 21, the single adult child become mentally or physically handicapped, they are still entitled for the burial.
Gravestones And Inscriptions
For those members who are on active duty, ex-military servicemen and retired soldiers or members of National Guard are entitled for free gravestone, at any graveyard, and any place in the world whether it is national, state ex- military servicemen or private.
Burial Flags
VA also gives a U.S. flag for ex-military servicemen who have served their country throughout wartime on 31st Jan, 1955 or after that date. And also to the ex-military servicemen who were retired and are eligible to get pay for service from the reserve.
Expenses Of Reimbursement Of Burial By VA
VA also provides allowance of burial upto $2,000, if death of ex- military servicemen is service-connected. VA also pays funeral allowance of $300 for ex- military servicemen who were entitled for pension at the time of their death. Claims can also be filed during 2 years after burial, in the case if the death is not service connected.
What Are Honors Of Military Funerals?
If the military family requests the Defense Department provides military funeral awards which contains folding and presentment of the U.S. flag with the conventional Taps playing. The ceremony comprises of minimum two service members in uniforms, with minimum one member belonging to the dead military service member.
