Having a military funeral at funeral homes in Clinton Township, MI is something that many military veterans and their families want after they die. There are several funeral benefits that are available through the Department of Veterans Affairs for all military veterans, except those who received a dishonorable discharge.

These benefits, which are provided at no charge, include burial in a national cemetery, opening and closing of the grave, a gravestone or grave marker, a United States burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a grave liner, and perpetual care. Spouses and dependent children of military veterans are also entitled to these funeral benefits with interment in a national cemetery, even if they predecease the military veteran.

Military veterans and their families are not able to reserve a burial site in a national cemetery in advance of death. If the national cemetery does not have space, the funeral home director can work with a state military cemetery for burial. State military cemeteries typically offer the same burial services, at no cost, as national cemeteries.

If a military veteran wants to be buried in a private cemetery, the funeral benefits available include a United States burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a grave marker or gravestone. These are free of charge.

For military veterans who die while on active duty, all funeral costs are covered by the military. Burial will be in a national or state cemetery, and the veteran’s spouse and dependent children are eligible for burial there as well. Survivors also receive a one-time bereavement payment from the military for $100,000.

For veterans who served in the military until retirement, died because of a service-connected disability, were receiving a VA pension or compensation when they died, were entitled to a VA pension or compensation, but took full military disability or retirement pay instead, died during a VA hospitalization or while receiving care from the VA, some funeral costs may be reimbursed by the VA.

The family of the military veteran who died will need to apply for VA reimbursement. The VA considers these on a case-by-case basis.

For deaths that are connected to military service, the VA will pay up to $2000 toward funeral expenses. For deaths that are not related to military service, the VA will pay up to $762. If a military veteran dies while traveling at the VA’s expense (for exams, treatment, or care), the VA will pay the maximum allowance, depending on the status (service-connected death or non-service connected death) of the veteran.

Military veterans are also entitled to receive military honors. This is usually performed graveside by a military honor guard unit. The ceremonies included in military honors are the removing the American flag from the casket, folding it into a triangle, and presenting it to one of the veteran’s family members. Then “Taps” will be played. “Taps” was once played live by a bugler, but most of the time now, a recording of the song is played.

If the family of the veteran requests it, a 21-gun salute will also be performed before the other funeral honors are done. When the 21-gun salute is finished, one of the honor guard members will fold three of the shell casings into the American flag before presenting it to the family.

For more information about military funerals at funeral homes in Clinton Township, MI, our compassionate and experienced staff at Lee-Ellena Funeral Home can help. You can come by our funeral home at 46530 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb, MI, 48044 or you can contact us today at (586) 412-8999.