What Benefits Do Veterans Qualify For, and What Is Included?
Summary
• Eligible veterans may receive burial in a national cemetery, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
• Military funeral honors typically include a flag-folding ceremony and the playing of Taps, performed by uniformed service members.
• Benefits may also extend to eligible spouses and dependents in national cemeteries.
• Funeral homes often help families apply for benefits and coordinate honors with the VA and NCA.
What Benefits Do Veterans Qualify For, and What Is Included?
Families in Tulsa, Oklahoma, often ask what benefits veterans may receive when planning a meaningful farewell for a loved one who served. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), eligible veterans may receive several burial and memorial benefits designed to honor their service. All guidelines below reflect national information accurate as of 2025.
Veterans, active-duty service members, and certain dependents may qualify for burial benefits through the VA. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) provides eligible veterans with a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care at no cost in a national cemetery.
Additional benefits may include a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag presented to the next of kin, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate recognizing the veteran’s service. These honors reflect the nation’s gratitude for the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.
Military funeral honors are another important part of the farewell. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) notes that most honorably discharged veterans are eligible for a ceremony that includes the folding and presentation of the United States flag and the playing of Taps by uniformed service members.
Families may choose burial in either a national or private cemetery. While national cemeteries offer specific included benefits, many honors—such as the headstone, burial flag, and memorial certificate—may still be available for eligible veterans laid to rest in private cemeteries.
FAQs
What benefits are available for veterans’ funerals?
Eligible veterans may receive burial in a national cemetery, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and military funeral honors if eligible.
Do all veterans receive military honors?
Most honorably discharged veterans typically qualify for military funeral honors, which include the folding and presentation of the United States flag and the playing of Taps.
Can family members be buried with a veteran?
Eligible spouses and certain dependents may be interred with the veteran in a national cemetery if space is available.
Written for Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service & Cremation Care Centers, proudly serving families in Tulsa with compassion and care.
About Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service & Cremation Care Centers
Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service & Cremation Care Centers is located at 5757 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74145, and can be reached at 866-746-2273. The funeral home is committed to guiding families through meaningful tributes with respect and dedication.
