What are my Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) burial benefits?
VA burial benefits include a grave site in any of the 120 national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a grave liner for casketed remains, a burial flag, and a presidential memorial certificate, at no cost to the family. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains. Will the VA provide the burial flag? The VA provides a U.S. flag to drape across the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces. You may apply by completing VA Form 21-2008 (Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes), available at any VA regional office or U.S. post office. When burial is in a national, state, or post cemetery, a burial flag will be provided without an application. How should a burial flag be displayed? The proper way to display a flag depends on whether the casket is open or closed.
