The Veterans' Cemetery

The veterans' cemetery is a place that is appropriate for the burial of military personnel and often their family members. This is a burial right that is restricted to qualifying members. There is no charge to be buried in a cemetery for veterans.

Before You Decide on a Veterans' Cemetery

If you have to bury a loved one you do have the option of using a veterans' cemetery. You are not, however, obligated to do so. Many people believe that it is a requirement of service when in fact it is not.

Using a military cemetery requires uniformity. The most famous of such burial grounds is Arlington National Cemetery, often recognized by the organized and uniform rows of white crosses. Arlington does not permit the use of personalized headstones, and neither do other military burial grounds.

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The greatest benefit to the families of those who have served is that their burial is done at no charge. There is no charge for the grave marker, either. This can be a very big factor considering the costs associated with other burial services. The grave markers are personalized with the basic information and are not inscribed with the loving epitaphs that are often carried on other types of grave markers.

Does Your Loved One Qualify for Veterans' Cemetery Burial?

A veteran's cemetery is not open to all members of the service. You do need to make sure that your loved one qualifies for burial before you opt for this type of plot. There are certain exceptions that are made that can disqualify a service man or woman from the right to be buried in the grounds.

The loved one must be an active member, and can not be a member in training. If the individual is a retired member of the Armed Forces they are entitled to burial rights.

If your loved one was a member of the reserves, they can still qualify for military burial services if they have loved past the age of 60, completed their training and served as required, and were drawing pay for retirement.

Members of the Armed Forces who received disability but were honorably discharged before the 1st of October, 1949 and met the 30% disabled ratio requirement can still qualify for military burial rights.

Any veteran who received a purple heart, silver star, distinguished service medal, or the distinguished service cross qualifies for military burial rights as well. The rights also extend to those who have died after 1993 who were held as prisoners of war and still served honorably.

A qualified member of the Armed Forces who also served as an elected official or who held a position on the Supreme Court can be buried in the veterans' cemetery. Of course, past and present US Presidents are also qualified automatically.

Loved Ones of Service Members

You don't have to be in the service to qualify for burial in a veterans' cemetery. If a spouse of an active or retired military member dies, they can qualify for the military burial. Any minor children of active and retired service personnel also qualify. In some cases, a parent of service members can qualify but this is rare. Any child that is unmarried and permanently dependent can also be considered for qualification.

If a spouse has been officially declared missing in action the surviving spouse and minor children still qualify. A spouse that has been interred elsewhere through military authorization, such as those who were entombed in the sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor qualify for military burial as well.

If a spouse qualifies for military burial then the minor children would also be naturally included in the qualification process. Adult children who are unmarried but are dependents can be considered as minor children. If a minor child is buried in the veterans' cemetery the parents both have the right to be buried there as well.

In some cases a grave can be shared by a former member of the branches of service with a loved one that has already qualified and has been previously buried in the military cemetery.

You Will Need to Apply with Proof

In most cases, if there is a loved one that should qualify for burial in a veterans' cemetery the application process is fairly straightforward. You need to submit the request and offer proof of their qualifications. If you are making a special request such as burial in the same grave as another or exception to the qualification rules, you will have to not only submit the proof but also explain why an exception or shared grave should be granted.

Submitting an application for burial doesn't take long and the response time is fast provided that you submit all relative information. It's best if this information is always on hand in case it's needed before one anticipates needing it.

In the event of denial, you can request that the application be resubmitted in a timely fashion. Be sure that you didn't overlook something, forget to include the appropriate contact information, or fail to provide adequate records in your application to avoid burial delays.

Proof of service is generally not necessary when the loved one who has passed away is an active military service man or woman. In such cases there is an office of each branch that deals with the processing and the requirement notification so that there is no hold up in the burial process.

The veterans' cemetery grants approval for burial based on ensuring that no active or awarded retired member of the service will have to be displaced. This can create conditions that are hard for families to understand. For instance, a service individual who has been killed in the line of duty by friendly fire would automatically qualify for military burial rights unless they were shot based on their own ill intentioned actions. This can include giving up a position location and other such acts.

Cremation Remains

Military service personnel can also qualify for the internment of cremated remains on the military burial grounds. In most cases the same application procedures and standards apply, although in many cases those who failed to qualify for burial can qualify for cremation internment.

Choosing Veterans' Cemetery Options

Most members of the military and their family members prefer to be buried within the bounds of the veterans' cemetery. It is a place of honor that can offer the active and retired military a place in history that is unique. Choosing this option is a positive step in honoring those who have served and those who continue to serve their country.

* A veterans' cemetery  is often the best option for service personnel and their family members provided that they meet the basic qualifications for acceptance to the grounds.