While most Americans are familiar with Arlington National Cemetery in our nation’s capital, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration actually maintains 155 national cemeteries in 42 states and Puerto Rico. Most Veterans qualify for burial benefits, which include a gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker, or medallion, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Cremated remains are inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.
We have one of the most beautiful national cemeteries right here in Georgia. The Georgia National Cemetery is peaceful, beautiful, and often recognized as one of the top five national cemeteries in the United States. Scott Hudgens, a Georgia native and World War II Veteran, donated the 755-acre site for the Georgia National Cemetery after visiting the Normandy American Cemetery in 1995. The Georgia National Cemetery has space for nearly 30,000 grave sites, and an expansion is currently underway.
If you or your loved one would like to be buried in a national cemetery, there are a few steps you can go ahead and take to prepare. Actual burial arrangements will be made after death, and the VA does not reserve grave space; however, upon request, the VA will go ahead and make eligibility determinations for burial in advance of need. This is called a pre-need determination of eligibility and obtaining it early may make a time of grief a little easier for you or your surviving family members.
Step One: Find out if you are eligible.
Information about eligibility may be found at www.va.gov/burials-memorials/eligibility/
Step Two: Choose the VA national cemetery where you’d prefer to be buried.
Locations of VA cemeteries may be found at www.va.gov/find-locations/
Step Three: Gather the supporting documents and information you will need to fill out the application.
To apply you will need your Social Security number; date and place of birth, military status and service history (ex. service dates, discharge character, rank); discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents). If you do not have your discharge papers, you may request them by submitting a military records request. Information about this process may be found at www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
Step Four: Complete the Application for Pre-need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery (VA Form 40-10007).
You may apply online at www.va.gov/burials-and-memorials/pre-need/form-10007-apply-for-eligibility/introduction or you may download VA Form 10007 at www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-40-10007/ and apply via mail or fax.
If you are applying on behalf of someone else, you will also need supporting documents showing you have the authority to apply for that person, and you will need to complete an Appointment of Individual as Claimant’s Representative (VA Form 21-22a), which is available at https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-22a/.
The above application process applies to all national cemeteries except Arlington National Cemetery and the United States Soldiers and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. For burial in either of these Department of the Army cemeteries, you will need to call (877) 907-8585.
In addition to the national cemeteries, many states have veteran cemeteries. The eligibility criteria for interment in a veteran cemetery is typically the same as required for interment in a national cemetery; however, some states have a residency requirement. These state, territory and tribal veteran cemeteries are operated and maintained by the state, territory or tribe. Your state Department of Veterans Service will be able to provide you with detailed information.
There are two Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemeteries. One is located in Glennville and the other is located in Milledgeville. Additional information about these two veterans cemeteries may be found at https://veterans.georgia.gov/state-veterans-memorial-cemeteries.
Even if you are not interested in burial at a national cemetery or state veteran cemetery, you may still want to honor your Veteran by obtaining a headstone, marker, or medallion, a burial flag, and/or a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Additionally, you can request an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible Veteran. Your funeral director should be able to assist you in obtaining or incorporating these honors into the Veteran’s funeral and burial. Another helpful resource is Military One Source, which is an official U.S. Department of Defense website at www.militaryonesource.mil.
The government offers a variety of headstones and markers to choose from; however, the inscription must follow the approved format. The upright headstone is available in granite or marble. The flat grave marker is available in granite, marble or bronze; however, the government does not furnish a base. A niche marker is available in bronze, and mounting bolts and washers are furnished with the marker.
Bronze medallions are furnished by the VA in lieu of a traditional government headstone or grave marker for those Veterans who served on or after April 6, 1917, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. The bronze medallion is available in three sizes and can be easily affixed to privately purchased headstones by anyone. Also, for those Veterans who are Medal of Honor recipients, a Medal of Honor medallion is furnished by the VA upon request.
A United States flag is also provided by the VA, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased Veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces. To receive a burial flag to honor a Veteran, you will need to complete the Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes (VA Form 27-2008), which is available at www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-27-2008/. Once completed, you will submit the application to the funeral director, a VA regional office, or a participating United States post office.
The Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged, deceased Veterans. If the Veteran is not being buried at a national cemetery, to obtain a PMC the Veteran must be eligible for burial in a national cemetery and the person requesting the PMC must be the Veteran’s next of kin, family member, or close friend of the Veteran. The VA will accept multiple requests for a PMC. You can apply for the PMC online, in person, by mail, or by fax. In each case you will need to fill out the Presidential Memorial Certificate Request Form (VA Form 40-0247), which may be found at www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-40-0247/, and provide the requested supporting documents.
The death of a loved one can be such a stressful time, and planning ahead to request burial benefits and honors for a Veteran may help to avoid some of that stress. It also provides the Veteran with an opportunity to voice his or her wishes for a funeral, burial or cremation. Additionally, it allows you the opportunity to make a list so none of the requests or options are forgotten. Including these preferences is part of the estate planning process at Wheat Law.
Schedule your Estate Planning Consultation with Wheat Law by calling (770) 404-5770 or by emailing us at info@wheat-law.com.