A caring solution to help you plan for the future and settle affairs after a loss.
VA National Cemeteries
1) See if the deceased is eligible to be buried at a VA National Cemetery.
Eligibility requirements are:
A Veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, or
A Servicemember who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, or
The spouse or dependent child of a Veteran, even if the Veteran died first, or
In some cases, the adult, dependent child of a Veteran (if they aren’t married)
2) Understand costs and timing
For Arlington and VA National cemeteries, everything is paid for except transportation of the body (unless the death occurred on active service) and a vault
The process may take weeks to months, depending on whether the documents all verify eligibility, special requests, requests for military funeral honors with an escort (which can take longer to schedule than military funeral honors because of additional military resources such as escorts and the caisson), and requests for the chapel
3) Fax eligibility information to 1-866-900-6417 or scan and email it to NCA.Scheduling@va.gov. You will need:
A copy of an official military discharge document bearing an official seal, or other supporting documentation, is usually sufficient to determine eligibility for burial. The document must show release from service was under conditions other than dishonorable
Discharge documentation is not usually needed for scheduling when a Veteran or eligible dependent is already interred in a national cemetery
If you don’t have eligibility documentation, Scheduling Office agents will assist you with the verification process. Requests for eligibility determination when no military discharge documents are available may require 48 hours or more for verification.
4) Contact a local funeral home to arrange for any local services you would like
First or subsequent burial (Veteran or dependent already buried)
If subsequent internment, who is already interred, section and site number (if known)
The deceased person's full name, gender, SSN, date of death, date of birth, relationship (Veteran or dependent), zip code at the time of death, and marital status
Contact Info (funeral director's name as well as the name, address, and e-mail address of the funeral home)
Next of kin information (name, relationship to deceased, SSN, phone number, address)
Type of religious emblem for headstone (if known)
Whether the deceased resided within 75 miles of the cemetery
Type of burial (casket or cremation)
Casket size/liner size/urn size/urn vault size
Any disabled children for future interment (must provide name and date of birth). If requesting immediate interment (must provide marital status, doctor's statement stating the type of illness, date of onset of illness and capability of self-support).