When a veteran passes away, families often turn to their funeral director or cemetery professional for guidance during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. Understanding the burial and memorial benefits available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can help you provide clear answers, ease uncertainty, and ensure veterans receive the honors they have earned.
To support funeral and cemetery professionals, the VA National Cemetery Administration (NCA) has released several new resources designed to make it easier to navigate veteran burial benefits and explain the process to families.
What Benefits May Be Available?
Many veterans and their families are unaware of the benefits they may qualify for, which can include:
- Burial in a VA national cemetery or eligible state, territorial, or tribal veterans cemetery
- A government-furnished headstone or marker
- A United States burial flag
- Perpetual gravesite care at no cost to the family
New Resources for Funeral and Cemetery Professionals
The National Cemetery Administration has expanded its online library with several new tools that can be shared with families or used by staff, including:
- Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM): Families Honoring Veterans flyer
- What Veteran Families Can Expect at a VA National Cemetery information sheet
- Veterans Legacy Memorial for Families digital poster
- Downloadable posters and banners about VA burial and memorial benefits
Additional resources include planning guides, burial scheduling information, and educational materials to help families better understand available benefits before the time of need.
A Helpful Resource to Share
The VA has also produced a short video, Honor Forever: A Guide for Families at Time of Need, which walks families through:
- Burial benefits available at VA national cemeteries
- The burial planning and scheduling process
- How funeral professionals and the VA work together to support families
▶ Watch: Honor Forever: A Guide for Families at Time of Need
AFCCA encourages members to familiarize themselves with these resources and share them with veteran families whenever appropriate. Having accurate information readily available can make an already difficult time a little less overwhelming while ensuring families receive the benefits their loved one earned through military service. Additional resources are available through the VA National Cemetery Administration’s Industry Professionals webpage.