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BURIAL BENEFITS
HEADSTONES AND MARKERS
VA provides headstones and markers for the graves of veterans anywhere in the world and for eligible dependents
of veterans buried in national veteran, state veteran, or military cemeteries. Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright
granite and upright marble types are available to mark the grave in a style consistent with the place of burial. Niche
markers also are available to mark columbaria used for the interment of cremated remains.
Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the deceased, the years of birth and death, and branch of service.
Optional items that also may be inscribed at VA expense are; military grade, rank or rate, war service (example: "World War
II")’ months and days of birth and death; an emblem reflecting one's religious beliefs; valor awards; and the Purple Heart.
Additional items may be inscribed at private expense.
All markers to be placed in private cemeteries are ordered through the County Veterans Service Office. Markers to be placed
in state veterans or military cemeteries are ordered through the respective cemetery officials.
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BURIAL ALLOWANCE BENEFITS
VA will pay a burial allowance of up to $2,000 if the veteran's death is service-connected. VA also will pay the cost of
transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery nearest the home of the deceased that has
available grave sites. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran's burial expenses may claim reimbursement from VA. VA
will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at time of death, were entitled to receive pension
or compensation. Eligibility is also established when death occurs in a VA facility or a nursing home with which VA
contracted. Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be
reimbursed. There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims of service-connected deaths. In other deaths, claims must be filed within 2 years after permanent burial or cremation.
VA will pay a $300 plot allowance when the veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under U.S. government jurisdiction if
the veteran was entitled to receive pension or compensation, or if the veteran died while hospitalized by VA.
BURIAL FLAGS
VA provides an American flag to drape the casket of an Active Duty veteran, a person entitled to retired military pay and to a
reservist who completed at least one enlistment in the Selected Reserve. After the funeral service, the flag may be given to the
next of kin or a close associate.
VA also will issue a flag on behalf of a service member who was missing in action and later presumed dead. In La Crosse
County, flags are issued to funeral homes through the County Veterans Service Office.
BURIAL IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES
Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care. Many
national cemeteries have columbaria for the interment of cremated remains or special gravesites for the burial of cremated
remains.
Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans and of armed forces members also may be buried in a national cemetery. A
surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who married a non-veteran, and whose death was terminated by death or divorce, is
eligible for burial in a national cemetery.
Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. Funeral directors or others making burial arrangements must apply at the
time of death.
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