Honoring Veterans
We are known for our compassionate, caring and thoroughly professional staff, and have years of experience in planning military services for dignitaries such as Tuskegee Airman Major John L Harrison, Jr. or Dr. George Beichel, lead scientist on the Manhattan Project. Every Veterans funeral services are special and should be treated as though. Whether your family chooses cremation or burial, we will be proud to take care of all the details involved. Our Funeral Home has been directly involved with creating the city wide program, "No Veteran Left on a Shelf". This program enables us to identify these Veterans at the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office and confirm their military service records in order to have them interred in Washington Crossings National Cemetery. We time these services quarterly with the veterans remembrance ceremony which takes place on the last Thursday of the month. Please feel free to reach out to our firm in regards to any Veteran that would like to be added to this ceremony or know of a Veteran who has passed away with no family. We are proud to provide this service to our Veteran Community.
Understanding Veteran Eligibility and Benefits
Eligibility for veteran burial benefits is based on a variety of factors, including length and character of service. In most cases, eligibility is verified through the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, commonly known as DD Form 214. If this document is unavailable, alternative records demonstrating honorable service may be accepted, and replacement documentation can often be obtained through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Eligibility Requirements
Veteran burial benefits are generally available to:
- Active-duty service members and certain Selected Reserve members
- Veterans who were honorably discharged from military service
- Selected Reserve members who completed at least one enlistment period without dishonorable discharge
- Former Reserve members discharged due to service-related disabilities
Eligibility requirements may vary depending on specific circumstances, and our staff can assist families in determining qualification.
Veteran Burial Allowance and Memorial Benefits
A veteran burial allowance, sometimes referred to as a veteran death benefit, may be available to help offset funeral, burial, or transportation expenses. In most cases, families pay for services upfront and then apply for reimbursement if eligible. The amount of the allowance varies based on factors such as the veteran’s date of death and whether the death was service-related. Additional benefits may include a government-provided headstone or marker, burial flag, and military honors. Our funeral professionals are here to help families understand available benefits and guide them through the application process.
