FUNERAL DEATH BENEFITS FOR VETERANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
Burial benefits available to Texas Veterans include a gravesite in any of our 5 national cemeteries in Texas which include opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in one national cemetery located in San Antonio TX in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains. Here is a list of national cemeteries in the State of Texas.
San Antonio National Cemetery 517 Paso Hondo Street San Antonio, TX 78202
Phone: 210-820-3891
FAX: 210-820-3445
Cremation Only
Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran's headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran.
The Veterans family should make funeral or cremation arrangements with the funeral directors that work with Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory, Inc. Any item or service obtained from a Martin Oaks will be at the family's expense.
Schedule a Burial
To schedule a burial in one of Texas National Cemeteries, please contact Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory, Inc. at (469) 605-7215, 24/7.
Headstones, Markers and Medallions
Most Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable are eligible to receive a headstone, marker or medallion, at no cost to the applicant.
Presidential Memorial Certificate
A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President.
Burial Flags
A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased Veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Burial Allowance
VA burial allowances are flat rate monetary benefits that are paid for an eligible Veteran's burial and funeral costs.
Survivor Benefits
The Veterans Benefits Administration offers a variety of benefits and services to spouses, children, and parents of Service members and Veterans.
Burial at a Private Cemetery
Many burial benefits are available for eligible Veterans buried in a private cemetery at no cost to the family.
Keep your Discharge Paperwork!
If one is a member of the military, it is important to keep one’s discharge paperwork. The proof of an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces is an extremely important document that is the key to receiving certain services and benefits. The funeral directors who work with Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory cater to the nation's veterans.
To secure a final resting place within the national cemetery system, the family must provide the funeral director who works with Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory with the appropriate required discharge paperwork from whatever branch of the Armed Forces that person served.
What if I Do Not Have My Discharge Paperwork?
When families do not have the discharge paperwork to submit for review to the national cemetery scheduling office they can request a procedure called a “clearance.” Then the veteran’s discharge information and status are located by different agencies including the branch of the Armed Forces the veteran served in, the National Personnel Record Center in St. Louis and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The inherent danger in this is that there can be a delay of a few days to possibly weeks before the correct information is located and vetted by these agencies. Until that process is complete, the remains of the deceased will not be accepted into the national cemetery system. A delay can place an extra emotional strain on an already grieving family because they cannot set a final date for burial at the cemetery and have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their loved one is in their final resting place.
So what is the best way to avoid a situation such as this?
Working with Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory, Inc.
At Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory, as part of the pre-planning process the funeral directors who work with Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory Inc., request a copy of the honorable discharge for each person who tells them that their final resting place will be in one of America’s military cemeteries. The funeral directors who work with Martin Oaks Cemetery & Crematory go the extra step of contacting the National Cemetery Scheduling Office for their pre-arrangements and clearing the veteran in advance by forwarding their discharge paperwork for review and storage. Pre-planning in this way eliminates surprise delays.
Please contact us for more Information and professional advice from our Veteran specialists at (469) 605-7215, 24/7.
