If you or your loved one is US Veteran you are entitled to certain benefits upon death. One of the most surprising aspects is that a cremation will not be covered by the US government unless your loved one passes away due to a service-related death.

Before you will be applying for the free veteran benefits, you will need to figure out where your loved one with be cremated. The most cost-effective cremation option is called a direct cremation. A direct cremation is a cremation where there will be no viewing of your loved one’s body. However, you can still have service once your loved one is cremated. Once your loved one is cremated there are benefits, they will receive a free plot at the Florida National Cemetery.

• Florida National Cemeteries will provide all of the items for you at the graveside when you attend the Inurnment Service. The memorial Certificate will be mailed at a later date.
• The direct cremation facility can provide the necessary info and phone numbers to Families of Veteran Cremation Services. At Going Home Cremation, we can work with you to give all the necessary information.
• You will need the Veterans DD214 (discharge papers). If you do not have this form, you can call your local Veterans administration to acquire that. If your Veteran has attended a VA hospital or VA doctor recently the VA can identify your loved on through their medical records.

Additional Free Veterans Cremation Service Benefits:

• Burial flags, provided for free, drape the casket or urn of a service member who served honorably in the military.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate — Provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Presidential Memorial Certificate is a gold-embossed paper certificate available to next of kin and loved ones of deceased service members It is signed by the current president of the United States to honor the memory of honorably discharged veterans.
• Government-furnished gravesite — The Department of Veterans Affairs’ burial services for eligible veterans include a gravesite at any Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery, based on space.
• Government-furnished headstones and markers — The Department of Veterans Affairs will furnish a free government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world. Headstones and markers are also available for eligible spouses and dependents of veterans in a national, military installation or state veteran cemetery.

It is important to pick a direct cremation facility that has familiarity in guiding families in how to appropriately request the veteran cremation benefits. At Going Home Cremations, we can help direct you to the correct pathways to