- 1). Determine what sort of funding the veteran qualifies for based on the particulars surrounding his or her death. If the veteran is killed while on active duty, the funeral will be fully paid for by the military, while if the death is service related but did not occur while on active duty, a service allowance will be provided. Death of the veteran within a Veterans Affairs center also will qualify her for some form of compensation.
- 2). Choose where the body is to be buried. Funerals occurring at private cemeteries will require particular preparation relative to the individual cemetery. Since every veteran is eligible to be laid to rest in a national cemetery, a burial at one of these locations can be arranged by contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs, though eligibility documentation will be required. A scheduler in the department will contact the person making the request within 48 hours of the request.
- 3). Apply for a burial flag and/or grave marker. Choose the emblem or style desired for the grave marker. Apply by completing the appropriate applications at the Department of Veterans Affairs website. You can obtain the burial flag at any VA center or U.S. Post Office, and, most often, the funeral director will help you procure the flag and marker if the burial is scheduled for a private cemetery.
- 4). Have necessary information at your disposal before contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the type of burial to be requested, casket dimensions, funeral director's contact information, headstone emblem style and location of the veteran at time of death.
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