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COUNTY BENEFITS
Benefits may be available from
counties through the Veterans Affairs Office. The benefits and eligibility
requirements vary by county. Generally though, county veterans offices offer the
following services. Please check with your local office to determine
availability and eligibility of the programs.
Burial Allowance
A county burial allowance may be provided to veterans and spouses of deceased
veterans. Applications usually have to be made within one year of the death.
Grave Markers
Most counties will provide a county grave marker to deceased veterans. The
initial grave marker is provided free of charge by the county in which the
deceased service person had legal residence at the time of death, regardless if
the veteran died in the county or was buried in the county. Replacements of
deteriorated or missing markers may be made by the county in which the veteran
is buried.
Government/Private Headstones
A county headstone allowance is provided for qualified veterans by many
counties. The one-time expense is paid by the county in which the veteran had
legal residence at the time of death
Discharge Certificates
Discharge certificates are filed free with the Recorder of Deeds office.
Marriage and Divorce Records
Certified copies of marriage and divorce records are issued without cost to
disabled wartime veterans or veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Copies also are
given, free of charge, to dependents of veterans.
Eligibility for Interment
- Any member of the Armed
Forces of the United States who died on active duty, registered service as
an enlisted person before Sept. 7, 1980, or as an officer before Oct. 17,
1981, and whose discharge or separation was other than dishonorable.
- Any person whose first tour
of duty began on or after the above dates if a continuous period of 24
months or the full period for which called to active duty is completed, or
person was released for hardship discharge or has a compensable
service-connected disability.
- The spouse, widow, widower
and minor children of the eligible active duty member or veteran.
- Unmarried adult children of
eligible active duty members or veterans, if they become permanently
incapable of self-support because of physical or mental disability before
turning 21.
Burial Costs
There is no charge for a grave in any of the four mentioned national cemeteries.
Cemetery employees will open and close the grave and an appropriately inscribed
flat granite marker will be provided by the government and installed by cemetery
employees. The government also provides concrete graveliners at no charge. Other
types of burial vaults or liners may be used; however, these must be privately
funded. The services of the funeral director and related costs must be paid from
private funds.
Assignment of Space
One gravesite is authorized for the interment of all eligible family members.
Gravesites are not reserved before the time of need. When a death occurs and an
interment in the national cemetery is authorized, grave space is assigned in the
name of the active-duty member or veteran.
Arranging Burial
The person, usually a funeral director, making the arrangements should call the
cemetery as soon as possible to apply for burial. The funeral director should
have a complete copy of the veteran's properly signed discharge or the veteran's
service number, Social Security number or VA claim number. (Anyone contemplating
burial in a national cemetery should have a copy of discharge and statement of
wishes immediately available to survivors.)
Military Honors
Military honors are not provided by the national cemeteries. Honors must be
arranged in advance by the family or its representative. The staff will provide
telephone numbers and locations of nearby military bases, but the commander of
the base must determine if military personnel are available. Local Legion, other
veterans' organizations, the National Guard or Reserve groups also may be
contacted for assistance..
United States Flag
At the conclusion of the services for the present or former military personnel,
the folded flag is presented by the cemetery representative or, if present, the
honor guard.
Gravesite Decorations
Cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Metal temporary flower
containers are permitted. Floral items will be removed from graves by cemetery
personnel when they become faded or unsightly. Artificial flowers may be placed
on graves during the period specified on the floral regulation sign. Plantings,
statues, vigil lights, breakable objects of any nature and any other types of
commemorative items are not permitted.
Memorial Section
Memorial markers may be requested to commemorate any veteran whose remains have
not been recovered or identified, were buried at sea by one's own choice,
donated to science or cremated and the ashes scattered.
Pa.'s National Cemeteries
Indiantown Gap National
Cemetery
- 677 acres
- Space is available for both
casketed and cremated remains
- There is a Memorial Section
- There is no columbarium,
only in-ground cremation burials are permitted
- Committal services are
available upon request
National Cemetery for the
Alleghenies
- 292 acres
- Space is available for both
casketed and cremated remains
- There is a Memorial Section
- There is a columbarium;
however in-ground cremation burials are available
- Committal services are
available upon request.
Philadelphia National Cemetery
- 13.3 acres
- Closed to new interments,
but space may be available in sites of previously interred veterans
- There is a Memorial Section
- Committal services are
available upon request
Philadelphia National Cemetery
- 205 acres
- Space is available for both
casketed and cremated remains
- There is a Memorial Section
- There will be a columbarium;
however in-ground cremation burials are permitted
- Committal services are
available upon request.
All four national
cemeteries' offices have hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
weekdays, but are closed on weekends and all federal holidays
except Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The cemetery grounds are
open to visitors every day during daylight hours.
An Avenue of Flags is displayed on
Memorial Day, Veterans Day and other selected times during the year. The avenue
is composed of interment flags donated by the next-of-kin of deceased veterans.
Donation of interment flags may be made by personal delivery or by mail.
Indiantown Gap
National Cemetery
R.R.#2, Box 484, Annville, PA 17003 | (717) 865-5254
National Cemetery
of the Alleghenies
1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017 | (724)
746-4363
Philadelphia
National Cemetery
Haines St. & Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia, PA 19138 |
(609) 877-5460
Washington Crossing
National Cemetery
830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA 18940 |
(215) 504-5610
www.cem.va.gov |
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