Understanding Veterans Burial Benefits
Eligible veterans have earned meaningful burial benefits: a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a government headstone or marker, burial or inurnment in a national or state veterans cemetery, and military funeral honors. The VA may also provide a burial allowance toward costs, with higher amounts for service-connected deaths. C.R. Lyons and Sons in Danvers, Massachusetts, confirms eligibility using the DD Form 214 and handles the applications. Amounts and rules are set by the VA, so confirm current details at va.gov. For help, call 978.777.7900.
Memorial Items and Honors
The VA provides several memorial items at no cost for eligible veterans: a burial flag to honor military service, a Presidential Memorial Certificate signed in the President’s name, and a government-furnished headstone, marker, or medallion. Eligible veterans are also entitled to military funeral honors, including flag folding, presentation of the flag, and the playing of Taps by uniformed service members.
The VA Burial Allowance
For eligible veterans, the VA may pay a monetary burial allowance toward funeral and burial costs, along with a plot or interment allowance in some cases. The amount is higher when the death is connected to military service. These figures are set by the VA and change over time, so confirm the current amounts at va.gov; C.R. Lyons and Sons helps your family complete the application.
Cemetery Options for Veterans
Eligible veterans may be buried or inurned at a national cemetery, such as the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, or at a state veterans cemetery, often at little or no cost. Spouses and dependents may also qualify for burial there. C.R. Lyons and Sons confirms eligibility, reserves the site, and coordinates transportation and scheduling from the North Shore.
How C.R. Lyons and Sons Helps Veteran Families
- DD Form 214 review and confirmation of which benefits apply.
- Help applying for the VA burial allowance and memorial items.
- Coordination of military funeral honors with flag folding and Taps.
- Veterans on staff who understand military customs and paperwork.
- Four generations of independent, locally controlled care since 1925.
Frequently Asked Questions
What burial benefits are veterans entitled to?
Eligible veterans may receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a government headstone or marker, and burial or inurnment in a national or state veterans cemetery, plus military funeral honors. C.R. Lyons and Sons confirms eligibility and handles the applications.
Is there a VA burial allowance?
The VA may provide a burial allowance toward funeral and burial costs for eligible veterans, with higher amounts for service-connected deaths. Amounts and eligibility are set by the VA, so confirm current figures at va.gov. The firm helps you apply.
What documents prove veteran eligibility?
The veteran’s discharge papers, the DD Form 214, are the key document establishing eligibility for burial benefits. C.R. Lyons and Sons reviews the DD Form 214 and other records to determine which benefits apply to your family.
Reviewed by C.R. Lyons III, CFSP, CCS, owner and licensed funeral director, Massachusetts. Past president of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association and one of the first Certified Cremation Specialists in the United States (CANA, 2022).
Member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, the Cremation Association of North America, and Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Recurring recipient of the NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award. Four generations of family ownership since 1925.
