Burial Benefits
Burial benefits may be available for eligible deceased veterans. Families are encouraged to prepare in advance by discussing cemetery options with their funeral director, collecting the veteran’s military information including discharge papers (DD-214), and by contacting the cemetery where a burial is desired. Available options are listed below.
New Jersey Veterans Cemetery
The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs manages the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, North Hanover Township, Burlington County. The cemetery provides a no-cost burial for eligible veterans with legal New Jersey residency. Burial benefits include a grave site, grave liner, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government flat bronze marker and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Some of these benefits are also available for the spouses and dependent children of the veteran. For further information on eligibility and benefits visit https://www.nj.gov/military/cemetery.
National Veterans Cemetery
The Veterans Administration (VA) operates over 100 national cemeteries around the country, providing a no-cost burial for eligible individuals. Burial benefits include a grave site in any national cemetery with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. For further information about burial benefits and national cemetery locations visit https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/index.asp.
Although New Jersey is home to two national cemeteries, Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly no longer has graves available and Finn’s Point National Cemetery in Pennsville currently only accepts burial of cremated remains. However, the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, located on the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border in Newtown, Pennsylvania, has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains. Further information on this cemetery can be located at www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/washingtoncrossing.asp.
The process to schedule a burial at the nation’s premier national veteran’s cemetery, Arlington National Cemetery, can be complex and eligibility criteria are more stringent. For further information about burial benefits in Arlington National Cemetery, visit https://arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals or call 877.907.8585.
Private Cemeteries
Veteran burial benefits for a private cemetery include a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Talk to your local funeral director about options available when using a private cemetery.
Burial at Sea
Burial at sea is a means of final disposition of cremated and non-cremated remains that is performed on United States Navy vessels. For more information visit the United States Navy website.: https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/casualty/mortuary/Pages/BAS.aspx
Burial Allowance
Some deceased veterans may also be eligible for a burial allowance. The VA burial allowance is a partial reimbursement of burial and funeral costs. You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:
- You paid for a veteran's burial or funeral; and
- You were not reimbursed by another government agency or some other source such as the deceased veteran's employer; and
- The veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
For additional details and to apply for a burial allowance, visit the US Department of Affairs website https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance/.