• There is no charge for the gravesite or necessary interment services for a qualified Veteran. There is, however, a burial fee for an eligible spouse or family member.
• Only government furnished headstones will be authorized for use in State Veterans cemeteries. There is no charge for installing the headstones. Government headstones are ordered from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs after consulting with the surviving family members.
• Graveside services are not permitted. Committal services will be held in the chapel or at a committal shelter on the cemetery grounds. All services have a 30-minute window, and the service times are not flexible. Family members and other attendees are required to exit the cemetery when the service ends.  Family members may return to the gravesite after the burial of the casket or urn is complete and the area is cleared of all equipment and materials.
• All funeral expenses are the responsibility of the Veteran, family or estate. The state Veterans cemeteries provide a burial plot, opening and closing of the grave, grave marker and installation, and perpetual care at no cost to the Veteran.
• Caskets are not permitted to be opened for viewing at the state Veterans cemeteries. Viewings must be done at the funeral homes or locations other than the Veterans cemeteries.
   

For the public’s convenience, cemetery floral policies are conspicuously posted throughout the cemetery. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs does not permit adornments that are considered offensive, inconsistent with the dignity of the cemetery or considered hazardous to cemetery personnel or visitors. Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of a ground burial will be placed on the completed grave and will remain on the gravesite for 2 days. Floral arrangements placed after burial must be placed in the unbreakable vases provided by the cemetery, which can be found at various locations on the cemetery grounds. The area surrounding the columbarium is used for placement of flowers in that location. One vase per gravesite or niche is authorized. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves and at the columbarium at any time of year. They will be removed and disposed of by cemetery staff, when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate operations such as mowing. Artificial flowers and potted plants will be permitted on graves and at the columbarium during the periods of November 1st through April 1st, and 4 days before, through 4 days after Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4th and the Veteran or spouse birthday and day of death. They will also be removed by cemetery staff when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operation. They may not be secured to headstones or niche covers. Christmas wreaths, grave blankets and other seasonal adornments may be placed on graves and at the columbarium from December 1st through January 5th. They may not be secured to headstones or niche covers. Permanent plantings, flags, flowers planted in the vases and decorations such as statues, vigil lights, upright metal grave markers, flag holders, breakable objects and similar commemorative items are not permitted at grave or cremation sites. This includes the placing of coins on the headstones or niche covers. Unauthorized items will be removed. At the expiration of periods approved for placement of flowers and other decorations (i.e. artificial flowers and Christmas decorations), items will be removed. Artificial flowers and decorations that are removed will be placed in an inconspicuous holding area for one month prior to disposal. If damaged, faded or otherwise unsightly, the item will be disposed of immediately. MEMORIALS OR HEADSTONES, TO INCLUDE NICHE COVERS, ARE PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. PLEASE DO ATTACH ANYTHING TO, ALTER, YOUR LOVED ONE’S MEMORIAL OR HEADSTONE IN ANY WAY.

• Any former member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served on active duty and was discharged under honorable conditions.
• A Reservist or National Guardsman who is entitled to retired pay for non-regular service or a Veteran who would have been entitled to retired pay for non-regular service, but for the fact that the person was under 60 years of age.
  • Active-Duty time served must be Non-Training Time. 
  • Reservist and Guardsman may receive “Veteran status” as a result of being called to active duty by Executive Order and who served the full period for which called to active duty. 
     

Note: For any member who served as a result of being called to active duty by Executive Order, refer to the Executive Orders Disposition Tables Index.
 

The spouse, widow or widower of a qualified Veteran or a minor child who is unmarried and dependent on the qualified Veteran at the time of death. For purposes of definition, a "minor child" includes a child under 21 years of age or under 23 years of age if pursuing a course of instruction at an educational institution approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, an unmarried adult child of a qualified Veteran who became permanently incapable of self-support because of a physical or mental disability before attaining the age of 18 years is also eligible.

• The primary document used to verify honorable military service is the DD Form 214. A DD Form 214 is more commonly called a discharge or "Report of Separation from Active Duty." Other forms of proof may be acceptable pending verification. Veterans who are unable to locate their DD Form 214 should contact the local veteran's office or the nearest state veterans service office for assistance in obtaining a replacement copy.
  • The DD Form 214 required must represent the final period of service and contain the Character of Service.
• Veterans claiming eligibility strictly through service in the Reserve Components must present a "20-year letter" or proof of eligibility to receive retired pay and either a DD-214-1, or for National Guard, National Guard Bureau (NGB) Form 22.

Request for Military Records

The primary source for verification of a spouse is a marriage certificate. Dependent children may be verified by a birth certificate or other legal documents, such as adoption papers.

A letter is required from the dependent's physician certifying the dependent became permanently incapable of self-support because of a physical or mental disability before attaining the age of 18 years. Medical records and other documents will be considered only as supporting or corroborating documents.