When a loved one passes away, sometimes it’s all we can do to get through each moment and day. Unfortunately, those closest to the one who has passed are tasked with planning a funeral and burial or cremation within those first few days. It can be overwhelming, expensive, and stressful during a difficult time. At your funeral home near Marietta, GA, they can help you get through this process with as little stress as possible, allowing you and your family to grieve together. If your loved one was a veteran, there are many benefits that you can take advantage of, from special ceremonies for their funeral and burial, to financial benefits that can help pay for the services. Be sure to find out what all these are, so that you can utilize them to your benefit.

The main source of help for veteran funerals comes from VA burial benefits. This program helps veterans’ families plan and pay for their loved one’s funeral, as well as their burial in a national cemetery. It also offers memorial items to honor their memory with. People who qualify for VA benefits include those who did not have a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died during active duty or inactive duty training, or the spouse or minor child of a veteran.

The military funeral honors include the playing of “Taps,” a rifle guard, and a flag presentation ceremony. The flags are typically presented to the next of kin or a close friend. There are several qualifications to receive the flag ceremony. The deceased must either have served during wartime, died while on active duty, served in the military after January 31, 1955, or fit into several other qualifications. You may contact the VA to find out more, and to apply for benefits for your loved one’s funeral expenses.

Apart from these ceremonies, the deceased may be eligible for other benefits from the VA that help with transportation costs, paying for a burial plot or interment, and funeral expenses. If they are to be buried in a national cemetery, more of these benefits may apply. In some cases, you may be able to apply for a headstone or marker for your loved one, provided at no cost by the VA. These programs are designed to help deceased veterans’ families pay for and plan their loved one’s funeral. It is a way of giving thanks for the time they spent serving our country.

With a veteran’s funeral, you still have many of the same options when it comes to disposition, burial or interment, and a funeral or memorial service. However, you can benefit from some financial help given by the VA, which can help cover costs and expenses. Your funeral home near Marietta, GA, can help connect you with the right people to begin applying for benefits, and they can help you start planning your loved one’s funeral services. That way, you won’t feel as stressed or overwhelmed with it all, and you and your family can focus on being together and grieving your loss.