Immediate Support: 1-410-465-2848
A full list and explanation of Veteran’s Benefits can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov
A Veteran and their spouse, or dependent child, may be eligible for burial at a Veteran’s Cemetery. The two State Veteran’s Cemeteries that are closest to our funeral home are Garrison Forest Veteran’s Cemetery in Owings Mills, MD., and Crownsville Veteran’s Cemetery in Crownsville, MD. A discharge (DD214) or separation papers are required to prove eligibility for any Veteran’s Cemetery.
Information regarding Arlington National Cemetery can be found at:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil
Specific criteria are required to be met for burial at any Veteran’s Cemetery. Please visit these websites for further clarification, or contact us for additional information.
The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veterans' family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.
The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail or a Standard Honors Team Detail.
At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the veteran/family.
Veterans now have a new tool to help ensure their loved ones receive the benefits to which they are entitled after their death. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a new end-of-life planning section of their website that gives veterans and their family valuable information about benefits including life insurance, care preferences, survivor benefits, and memorial and burial benefits. There are even resources to help veterans plan ahead and ease the burden on loved ones during difficult times.
Visit the website today - https://www.va.gov/initiatives/end-of-life-benefits/
The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:
National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from the National Records Center or via the following web site: http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
Yes. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as members of a Uniformed Service, are also eligible to receive funeral honors.
Eligibility is established using NOAA Form 56-16, Report of Transfer or Discharge. If the family does not have a copy of the NOAA Form 56-16, it may by obtained by contacting the Chief, Officer Services Division, NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center at (301) 713-7715. or by writing:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commissioned Personnel Center
Chief, Officer Services Division (CPC1)
1315 East-West Highway, Room 12100
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Funeral honors eligibility is established using PHS Form 1867, Statement of Service (equivalent to the DD Form 214). If the family does not have a copy of the Statement of Service, it may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Coordinator for the Commissioned Corps at (240) 453-6041 or writing:
Division of Commissioned Personnel/HRS/PSC
Attention: Privacy Act Coordinator
5600 Fishers Lane
4-36
Rockville, Maryland 20857