Funeral Burial Benefits

A military discharge form, such as a DD-214, General Discharge, or a "Report of Separation from the Armed Services" is required to apply for any and all benefits. The discharge can be Wartime or Peacetime issued under conditions other than dishonorable.

If you have a military discharge, we strongly advise that you keep it in a convenient location, we will also be happy to keep a copy of it on file at the funeral home. 

If a military discharge is not available, we may be able to help you receive one, however, it can be a lengthy process.

If a copy of the discharge was registered with the Allegheny County Recorded of Deeds, please contact them directly at:

Department of Real Estate

101 County Office Bldg.

 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Tel: 412-350-4226 / Fax: 412-350-3787

Discharge forms may also be retrieved from the National Archives. You may click here to be redirected to the National Archives "Request Military Service Records" page. 

You may also complete and submit the below form. Instructions are found on the application.

All active-duty members, honorably discharged veterans, retirees, and reservists* are entitled to the following:

• Free certified copies of the Death Certificate for the Service Member, their legal spouse**, and any severely disabled children. Please note that this entitlement is only available for deaths recorded in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• **Effective October 01, 2023, the State will only issue free copies of the death c
  ertificate if the surviving spouse of the decedent is a veteran. If the veteran has preceded their spouse in death, the spouse is no longer eligible to receive this benefit. This ruling does not apply to severely disabled children.
• One (1) burial flag to drape over a casket or be displayed with an urn.
• A Presidential Memorial Certificate is available to honor a deceased Veteran with an honorable discharge. The certificate is signed by the sitting president at the time of the application.
• Active-duty representatives from the Service Member’s military Branch to render funeral honors.
• Burial/Inurnment in a National Cemetery; includes plot or niche, outer burial container, opening and closing fee, upright marker or niche lettering, and perpetual care. Benefit is available for the Service Member, their spouse, and any dependent children. *Please note that non-serving reservists are NOT eligible for burial at a National Cemetery.
• Cremated remains can be buried or entombed.
• Grave spaces cannot be reserved in advance.
• Graves are assigned on an as needed basis.
• No committals conducted on Holidays or week-ends.
• A veteran’s marker and medallion. Installation and marker base fees may apply to civilian cemeteries; costs may vary. Cemetery certification will be required on application for both a marker and medallion.

Please read all accompanying instructions carefully while completing each application. 

As a reminder, only war-time Veterans are eligible to receive monetary benefits. 

All burial allowance applications must be submitted with supporting documents within one (1) year of burial or cremation date for eligibility.

VA Form 40-0247 must be accompanied by a copy of the military separation papers showing an honorable discharge. It may be submitted electronically, via mail, or via fax.

 Instructions are found on the claim form.

VA Form 40-1330M must be accompanied by a copy of the military separation papers showing an honorable discharge. It may be submitted electronically, via mail, or via fax. 

Instructions are found on the claim form.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. 

For eligible veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, the VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already marked with a private headstone or marker. When the grave is already marked, applicants will have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or marker, or a new device (available spring 2009). 

Should a headstone, niche marker, flat marker, or government medallion be requested, cemetery approval will be required to complete the appropriate application. Please alert the funeral home as soon as possible, and we will help facilitate the required signatures.

Please note that while the headstone and markers are made and shipped at no cost to the applicant, installation and foundation fees may apply, and may vary between private cemeteries. The National Cemeteries will not charge for headstones or markers. Each cemetery will have their fees available upon request.

Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.

Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a national cemetery, state veteran's cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.