Veterans Benefits

U.S. Military Veterans and their dependents may be entitled to a variety of benefits depending on their circumstances. One of our Funeral Directors or an agent of the Veterans Affairs office can help you determine what benefits can be claimed. To be eligible for most benefits, you must be:

- A Veteran, discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable

- A Service Person who has completed the required period of service

and/or

- Armed Forces members who die on active duty

Spouses and dependent children of eligible living or deceased Veterans may also be eligible for benefits. Your Military Discharge (form DD-214) will be required by the funeral home and the Veterans' Administration when applying for benefits.

The United States Government provides an American flag to be folded or draped on the casket of a Veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. After the funeral service, the flag will be given to the spouse, next of kin or a close associate of the deceased. Only one flag will be issued per Veteran. Our funeral home will obtain this flag for you.

The United States Government provides no cost burial in a National or State Owned Veterans' Cemetery to all those eligible. This often includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a grave liner or outer burial container, and in most cases, a grave for the spouse and or the dependant child of the Veteran. Many National Cemeteries have columbaria niches for the inurnment of cremated remains or a special section for burial of cremated remains. (Your Military Discharge, form DD-214, is required for this benefit.) The closest National Veterans Cemetery that accepts new burials is Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, Long Island, NY. All of the other area National Veterans Cemeteries no longer have room for new interments, however, they are still open for burials of a spouse or dependent child of an already buried person. The State owned Veterans Cemetery, Brigadier General William C. Doyle NJ Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located in the Arnytown section of Hanover Township, NJ, near McGuire Air Force Base and Six Flags Great Adventure. It is approximately 90 minutes or 65 miles from our funeral home.

The United States Government will provide a headstone or marker for the graves of Veterans and eligible dependents at any cemetery in the world. Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble and upright marble types are available. Bronze niche markers may also be available to mark columbaria in national cemeteries, or any cemetery that will accept markers for a niche. The monument will be free of charge, but there will most likely be a charge from your cemetery for installation. You may also wish to add limited information or "terms of endearment" to the marker at an additional cost to you. Please note that delivery of a headstone or marker, in most cases, may take from three to six months or longer.

The United States Government provides a $300.00 burial and funeral expense allowance for Veterans who, prior to their passing, were disabled as a result of their service or were entitled to receive a pension or compensation in lieu of military retirement pay. Eligibility is also established when death occurs in a Veterans Administration facility or a nursing home with which the Veterans Administration has contracted. Additional costs for transportation of the remains may be reimbursed in such cases. Claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation. Our Funeral Directors will complete the necessary claim forms for you.

Burial at sea is a means of final disposition of either intact human remains or cremated remains. This is offered to active duty, retired, and honorably discharged Veterans from all branches of the United States military. Burial at sea services are performed while a Navy vessel is on official maneuvers. Therefore, it is not possible for the family to be present. The commanding officer of the vessel will notify the family of the date and time of the committal service and the approximate location where the burial took place.

If you have any questions regarding Veterans entitlements or how we can assist you in planning Military funeral services, please contact us. If you need to speak to Military personnel directly, please try the number or link listed below.

National Veterans Administration

800-827-1000

Brigadier General William C. Doyle NJ Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Arneytown, NJ

609-758-7250