Veterans and many of their family members are entitled to meaningful burial benefits. Most are requested by the funeral home, but families move faster when they know what exists and have the veteran’s discharge papers ready. Everything below comes from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Archives.
On this page
Start with the DD-214
The DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or another separation document is needed for almost every veterans burial benefit. Look in home files and safe deposit boxes; some veterans also recorded their DD-214 with the county Clerk of Court.
If you cannot find it, next of kin can request it from the National Archives’ National Personnel Records Center online through eVetRecs or by mailing or faxing Standard Form 180, with proof of death such as a death certificate, a letter from the funeral home or a published obituary. Basic records are generally free, though records for discharges more than 62 years ago are archival and carry a fee.
Cape Canaveral National Cemetery
Brevard County’s VA national cemetery is Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 U.S. Highway 1, Mims, FL 32754 (321-383-2638). For eligible veterans, burial in a VA national cemetery includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker or medallion, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried with the veteran, even if they die first.
To schedule a burial, the funeral director or family faxes the discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417, then calls 1-800-535-1117.
Planning ahead: veterans and family members can apply for a pre-need eligibility determination (VA Form 40-10007). It confirms eligibility in advance but does not reserve a specific gravesite.
Military funeral honors
Every eligible veteran is entitled to a military funeral honors ceremony at the family’s request. At minimum this is two uniformed members of the Armed Forces, one from the veteran’s branch, who fold and present the United States flag to the next of kin, with Taps played. The funeral director usually requests honors; the VA recommends contacting the service branch at least 48 to 72 hours before the service.
Flags, headstones and certificates
- Burial flag: provided to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a veteran who served honorably. Request it with VA Form 27-2008 through the funeral director, a VA regional office or a U.S. post office.
- Headstone, marker or medallion: available for eligible veterans buried in any cemetery. In a private cemetery, only the veteran (not a spouse or dependent) is eligible for a government headstone or marker. Request with VA Form 40-1330.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate: an engraved certificate signed by the current President, available to next of kin, family members or close friends of a veteran eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Request with VA Form 40-0247 and a copy of the DD-214. Multiple certificates can be requested.
VA burial allowance
The VA may help pay burial and funeral costs in specific situations, such as when the death was service-connected, the veteran died while receiving VA care, or the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation. Current amounts published by the VA:
| Situation | Amount (per VA.gov) |
|---|---|
| Service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001 | Up to $2,000 burial allowance |
| Non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2025 | $1,002 burial allowance and $1,002 plot allowance |
Amounts change each October, and eligibility rules are detailed. Claims use VA Form 21P-530EZ. For a non-service-connected death, claims generally must be filed within 2 years of burial; there is no time limit for service-connected deaths. Confirm current figures on VA.gov.
Who to contact
- Your funeral director for honors, the flag, national cemetery scheduling and the burial allowance claim.
- Brevard County Veterans Services Office, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building B, Suite 102, Viera, FL 32940. Free help with survivor benefit applications. Brevard County Veteran Services.
- VA benefits line: 1-800-827-1000.
- National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 1-800-535-1117.
Speak With Buggs Funeral Home About Veterans Services
Funeral directors can help families request military funeral honors and complete VA benefit forms.
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Veterans funeral questions
Is burial at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery free?
For eligible veterans, the gravesite, opening and closing, perpetual care, headstone or marker, burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate are provided at no cost. Funeral home charges, such as transportation, preparation and a casket or urn, are not covered by this benefit.
Can a veteran's spouse be buried in a national cemetery?
Yes. Eligible spouses and dependents can be buried with the veteran, and their name and dates can be added to the veteran’s headstone at no cost. This applies even if the spouse dies before the veteran.
Are cremated remains accepted at national cemeteries?
Yes. National cemeteries inter cremated remains in-ground or in columbaria, where available, with the same honors.
What funeral benefits are available to veterans?
The main benefits are burial in a VA national cemetery, military funeral honors, a burial flag, a government headstone or marker, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and, in certain cases, a VA burial allowance toward funeral costs.
Related: Preplanning · Planning checklist · Burial
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Burial benefits, Veterans burial allowance, Military funeral honors, Pre-need eligibility, Cape Canaveral National Cemetery
- National Archives, Request military service records
- Brevard County, Veteran Services
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and fees change; confirm details with the agency or a licensed professional. Editorial standards