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When a service member or veteran dies, America makes a sacred commitment: to honor their service with dignity and support their families during the most difficult moments of their lives. This promise unfolds through a partnership between two government agencies—the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs—each with distinct but complementary roles.
Yet for grieving families, navigating this system often feels overwhelming. Which agency provides what benefit? Who pays for the funeral? How do you request military honors? The bureaucratic maze can seem insurmountable when you’re dealing with loss.
This guide explains exactly what the government provides, how to access these benefits, and what families can expect during one of life’s most challenging times. Whether you’re planning ahead or dealing with an immediate loss, understanding these benefits ensures your loved one receives the honor they earned and your family gets the support you deserve.
Who Does What: DoD vs. VA Responsibilities
The most common source of confusion for families is determining which department handles which benefit. The division is primarily based on the deceased’s status: active duty service member or veteran.
Department of Defense (DoD): Handles all aspects of active-duty deaths and provides Military Funeral Honors for all eligible veterans and service members.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Manages long-term benefits and memorialization for veterans, including national cemeteries, headstones, burial flags, and financial allowances.
Think of it this way: the DoD handles the immediate response and ceremony, while the VA manages the enduring benefits and permanent memorialization.
DoD vs. VA Burial Responsibilities
| Benefit/Service | Department of Defense (DoD) | Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) |
|---|---|---|
| Military Funeral Honors | Primary Responsibility. Manages and provides personnel for ceremony (flag folding, “Taps,” firing party) for all eligible active duty, veterans, and retirees. | Supporting Role. National Cemetery staff assist families in requesting honors from DoD. |
| Mortuary Affairs (Active-Duty Death) | Primary Responsibility. Handles recovery, identification, preparation, and transport of remains for service members who die on active duty. | Not involved in this process. |
| Casualty Assistance Officer | Primary Responsibility. Assigns trained officer to guide families through all arrangements and benefits. | Not involved. Provides separate bereavement counseling. |
| Burial in National Cemetery | Manages Arlington National Cemetery and U.S. Soldiers’ & Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. | Primary Responsibility. Manages 150+ VA national cemeteries with gravesite, opening/closing, and perpetual care at no cost. |
| Headstones & Markers | Not directly involved, except for Arlington orders. | Primary Responsibility. Provides government headstone, marker, or medallion for any eligible veteran’s grave worldwide at no cost. |
| Burial Flag | Provides flag for active-duty deaths and presents during honors ceremony. | Primary Responsibility. Furnishes one U.S. burial flag per eligible veteran via VA Form 27-2008. |
| Monetary Burial Allowances | Provides $100,000 “Death Gratuity” for active-duty deaths. | Primary Responsibility. Provides burial and plot allowances with amounts varying by service-connection of death. |
| Presidential Memorial Certificate | Not involved. | Primary Responsibility. Provides certificate signed by current President to next of kin. |
Military Funeral Honors: A Guaranteed Right
The most visible way America honors its veterans is through Military Funeral Honors—a solemn ceremony that’s not a courtesy, but a legal right guaranteed under Public Law 106-65.
What Are Military Funeral Honors?
Military Funeral Honors represent the nation’s final demonstration of gratitude to those who defended the country. The program, officially called “Honoring Those Who Served,” ensures every eligible veteran receives a dignified ceremony at their funeral, provided at no cost to the family.
Who Qualifies for Military Honors?
Eligibility is broad, designed to encompass nearly everyone who served honorably. The key factor is the character of military discharge.
Eligible individuals include:
- Military members who die while on active duty or in the Selected Reserve
- Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable (including “Honorable” and “Under Honorable Conditions (General)” discharges)
- Former Selected Reserve members who completed at least one term of enlistment
- Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Certain civilian groups granted active-duty designee status
Individuals NOT eligible include:
- Anyone with dishonorable, bad conduct, or other than honorable discharges
- Anyone convicted of federal or state capital crimes with death or life imprisonment sentences
- Anyone convicted of crimes requiring Tier III sex offender registration
- Anyone who avoided capital crime conviction due to death or flight to avoid prosecution
- Anyone ordered to report for military induction but not actually inducted
Core Elements of the Ceremony
Federal law mandates a dignified ceremony performed by at least two uniformed service members, with at least one representing the deceased veteran’s service branch.
The three essential elements are:
Playing of “Taps” This haunting 24-note bugle call serves as the “National Song of Military Remembrance.” While live buglers are preferred, a nationwide shortage means most services feature “Taps” played on a ceremonial bugle with a high-quality digital recording device inserted discreetly inside.
Folding of the U.S. Flag The flag draping the casket or accompanying the urn is meticulously folded 13 times, each fold representing one of the original colonies. The final triangular shape symbolizes the tricorn hats worn by Continental Army soldiers. When properly folded, only the blue field with stars remains visible.
Flag Presentation After folding, a uniformed service member presents the flag to the next of kin with these words: “On behalf of the President of the United States, (the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard), and a grateful Nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”
Levels of Military Honors
While core honors are universal, some veterans qualify for additional elements based on rank, awards, or circumstances of death.
Tiers of Military Funeral Honors
| Level | Eligibility | Elements Included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Honors | All eligible enlisted veterans, Warrant Officers (WO1-CW3), Officers (O1-O3) | • Two-person uniformed detail<br>• Playing of “Taps”<br>• Flag folding and presentation |
| Full Military Honors | Retirees (E9, CW4-CW5, O4+), Medal of Honor recipients, POWs, KIA | All Standard elements PLUS:<br>• Casket team/pallbearers<br>• Firing party (three-volley salute)<br>• Military band<br>• Escort platoon |
| Additional Elements | Senior officers, high-ranking officials | May also include:<br>• Caisson (horse-drawn carriage)<br>• Riderless horse<br>• Cannon salute<br>• Military flyover |
| Armed Forces Honors | President, Secretary of Defense, Chairman JCS | Full honors with escort platoons from every service branch |
How to Request Military Honors
The process is designed to be handled by professionals to minimize family burden during grief.
The Funeral Director’s Role Inform your funeral director that your loved one was a veteran and that you want Military Funeral Honors. The funeral director serves as the primary liaison, coordinating directly with the appropriate military service to arrange the honor guard detail.
Essential Documentation: DD Form 214 The most critical document is the DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). This contains service dates, rank, and “Character of Service”—the key to determining eligibility.
If DD Form 214 is Missing:
- Inform your funeral director, who can contact the veteran’s service branch Funeral Honors Coordinator
- Submit emergency request to National Archives at archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
- Provide the veteran’s Social Security number for electronic verification
Using the Directory The DoD maintains a comprehensive Military Funeral Honors Directory with contact information for each service branch’s coordinators, organized by state.
Timing Matters Military services request minimum 48 hours’ notice to ensure honor guard availability. Communicate your wishes to the funeral director as early as possible.
When Active Duty Service Members Die
The death of an active-duty service member triggers the military’s most comprehensive support system. The DoD assumes immediate responsibility for both the fallen service member and their family.
Immediate DoD Response: Mortuary Affairs
Unlike veteran deaths handled by private funeral homes, active-duty deaths trigger direct DoD intervention through mortuary affairs, providing complete services at no cost:
- Recovery and Transportation: Retrieval of remains, overseas evacuation if necessary, and transport to central mortuary facilities
- Identification: Positive identification of remains
- Preparation: Professional preparation including embalming, dressing in appropriate uniform, and casketing
- Final Transportation: Delivery to family’s chosen funeral home or cemetery anywhere in the world
- Family Travel: Transportation for primary next of kin and immediate family to attend services
- Personal Effects: Careful inventory and return of the service member’s belongings
The Casualty Assistance Officer: Your Personal Guide
Perhaps the most critical support is human: the Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO). This specially trained, senior service member becomes the family’s personal advocate, guide, and shield from bureaucracy.
The CAO serves as the living embodiment of the military’s promise to care for its own. Different services use different titles—Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard use Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO), while the Air Force uses Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR)—but the role remains the same.
CAO Responsibilities:
- Serve as the official single point of contact with the military
- Assess immediate family needs and provide support
- Explain and assist with all federal benefits applications
- Coordinate with mortuary affairs and chosen funeral homes
- Arrange transportation of remains and planeside honors
- Help gather necessary documents for benefits processing
- Coordinate Military Funeral Honors
- Remain with the family through the funeral and beyond
Financial Support for Active Duty Families
The financial support system for active-duty deaths is fundamentally different and more comprehensive than veteran benefits.
Death Gratuity The DoD provides a one-time, non-taxable payment of $100,000 to the primary next of kin. This Death Gratuity provides immediate financial stability and is separate from any Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) policies.
Funeral and Burial Expenses The military covers all primary funeral and burial expenses for active-duty deaths, including mortuary affairs services, casket, and transportation. If families choose private arrangements, the military reimburses equivalent costs up to specified limits.
This direct coverage contrasts sharply with the reimbursement system for veterans, where families typically pay upfront and apply for partial reimbursement later.
Essential Memorial Items
Several tangible items honor a service member or veteran’s memory. Understanding which agency provides what prevents confusion during arrangements.
The U.S. Burial Flag
A United States flag is provided at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn of every eligible service member or veteran. This flag symbolizes the nation’s gratitude for honorable service.
Key Point of Clarification: While DoD personnel fold and present the flag at the funeral, the flag itself is a VA benefit. Families might logically assume the presenting service member’s branch provides the flag, but all applications and support are managed through the VA.
Eligibility and Process:
- Eligibility mirrors Military Funeral Honors requirements (discharge other than dishonorable)
- Complete VA Form 27-2008
- Submit to issuing points (typically U.S. Post Offices or VA regional offices)
- Call ahead to ensure flags are in stock
Who Receives the Flag? The VA establishes precedence: surviving spouse, children (by age), parents, siblings, then other relatives. If no next of kin exists, close friends may request it.
Important Limitation: Federal law authorizes only one flag per veteran. It cannot be replaced if lost, stolen, or damaged. Some veterans’ organizations like The American Legion or VFW may provide replacement flags as courtesy.
Presidential Memorial Certificate
This engraved certificate, embossed with the presidential seal and bearing the current President’s signature, honors the veteran’s service to the nation. It’s purely a VA-administered benefit.
Application Process:
- Multiple copies available at any time after death, at no cost
- Complete VA Form 40-0247
- Submit by mail or fax with copy of DD-214 and death certificate
Government Headstones, Markers, and Medallions
One of the most significant VA burial benefits is providing government headstones or markers at no cost for any eligible veteran’s grave in any cemetery worldwide.
Types Available:
- Upright headstones in granite or marble
- Flat markers in granite, marble, or bronze
- Bronze medallions for existing private headstones
The Medallion Option: If the veteran’s grave already has a privately purchased headstone, families can request a bronze government medallion to be affixed to the existing stone. Families are entitled to either a government headstone/marker OR a medallion, but not both.
Important Limitation: In private cemeteries, this benefit applies only to veterans. Spouses and dependents are eligible only if buried in VA national cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, or military post cemeteries.
Understanding Costs: What’s Covered and What’s Not
Financial planning during grief is stressful. Understanding government-covered versus family-responsibility costs is essential.
What the Government Provides Free
These core benefits cost families absolutely nothing:
- Military Funeral Honors ceremony
- Burial in VA National Cemetery (including gravesite, opening/closing, concrete liner, perpetual care)
- Government-furnished headstone, marker, or medallion
- One U.S. burial flag
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
VA Burial Allowances: Partial Reimbursement
For expenses not covered above—funeral home services, cremation, flowers, transportation, obituaries—families are initially responsible. The VA helps offset these costs through burial allowances.
Critical Understanding: This is reimbursement, not upfront payment. Families pay funeral expenses first, then apply to the VA for partial reimbursement.
This creates a significant difference between active-duty and veteran deaths. Active-duty families receive $100,000 Death Gratuity plus direct expense coverage. Veteran families often cover thousands in funeral costs out-of-pocket, then apply for partial reimbursement that may be a fraction of total bills.
VA Burial and Plot Allowance Rates (deaths on or after October 1, 2024)
| Circumstance | Burial & Funeral Allowance | Plot/Interment Allowance | Total Potential Reimbursement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service-Connected Death | Up to $2,000 | N/A (included in $2,000) | $2,000 |
| Non-Service-Connected (died in VA hospital) | $978 | $978 | $1,956 |
| Non-Service-Connected (not in VA hospital) | $978 | $978 | $1,956 |
Note: Plot/interment allowance is for private cemetery burials only, not government cemeteries.
Application Process:
- File VA Form 21P-530EZ
- Submit with death certificate, DD-214, and itemized receipts showing paid expenses
- Time limit: typically within two years of burial/cremation for non-service-connected allowances
Arlington National Cemetery: Special Circumstances
Arlington National Cemetery holds unique status as America’s most hallowed ground, with operations and eligibility rules that differ significantly from the VA cemetery system.
Why Arlington is Different
Arlington is managed by the Department of the Army (DoD), not the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA’s mission is providing burial space for millions of eligible veterans across 150+ cemeteries. The Army’s mission for Arlington is maintaining it as the premier military shrine and stage for high-level state ceremonies.
This ceremonial mission, combined with severely limited space, necessitates much more restrictive eligibility criteria.
Stricter Eligibility Requirements
VA national cemetery eligibility doesn’t confer Arlington eligibility. Requirements for Arlington are among the nation’s most stringent. Key criteria for in-ground casketed burial generally require veterans who:
- Died on active duty
- Are military retirees receiving retirement pay
- Were former prisoners of war (POW)
- Received Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force Cross or Navy Cross), Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, or Purple Heart
Eligibility for cremated remains inurnment in Arlington’s columbarium is somewhat broader but still more restrictive than VA cemeteries. Families must contact Arlington directly to determine eligibility.
Unique Arlington Honors
As the nation’s foremost ceremonial cemetery, Arlington uniquely provides the most elaborate Military Funeral Honors. Elements like horse-drawn caissons, riderless horses, and cannon salutes are most commonly seen at Arlington due to its dedicated ceremonial units and resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse or dependent child be buried with me? Yes, in VA national cemeteries. An eligible veteran’s spouse and dependent children can be buried with the veteran, even if they die first. Their information will be inscribed on the veteran’s headstone. This benefit doesn’t apply to government-provided markers in private cemeteries.
What if we can’t find the DD Form 214? Contact your funeral director first. They can reach the military’s casualty assistance office to verify service electronically. You can also submit emergency requests to National Archives online at archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records.
Does the government pay for cremation? The government doesn’t pay funeral homes directly for cremation costs. However, VA burial allowances are monetary reimbursements that can help cover cremation expenses after families have paid.
Can we reserve a national cemetery plot ahead of time? No, specific gravesites cannot be reserved in advance. However, veterans and spouses can apply for pre-need eligibility determination, confirming eligibility ahead of time to streamline the arrangement process for families.
How do we get a replacement if the burial flag is lost or damaged? Federal law allows only one burial flag per veteran and prohibits replacements. Some veterans’ organizations or community groups may help obtain another flag.
Are honors different for cremated remains versus caskets? No. Cremated remains receive identical honors. The honor guard holds the folded flag over the urn as they would stand as pallbearers, and the ceremony proceeds identically.
How much do Military Funeral Honors cost? Military Funeral Honors are provided by the Department of Defense at zero cost to families.
Can I get Military Honors if I was discharged with a General discharge? Yes. “Under Honorable Conditions (General)” discharges qualify for Military Funeral Honors. Only dishonorable discharges are disqualifying.
What if the veteran served in multiple branches? The honors team should include at least one representative from the veteran’s primary service branch. The funeral director coordinates with the appropriate service based on the veteran’s longest period of service or final discharge.
Can we have both burial in a national cemetery AND a government headstone in a private cemetery? No. These are separate benefit options. Veterans can be buried in a national cemetery OR receive a government headstone/marker for a private cemetery grave, but not both.
The death of a service member or veteran activates a comprehensive system designed to honor their sacrifice and support their families. While navigating these benefits during grief can be overwhelming, understanding your rights and the available support ensures your loved one receives the recognition they earned through their service to our nation.
Our articles make government information more accessible. Please consult a qualified professional for financial, legal, or health advice specific to your circumstances.