Funerary Arrangements for Veterans
For those who have lost a loved one recently, the grief at the loss can make everything more complicated and this includes putting together the funerary arrangements. If your loved one was a veteran, there are some options that can help you with these arrangements and that can also offer the kind of honor that you want your loved one to have. Whether you are planning on having the person buried or cremated, funeral homes and providers of cremation services in Schenectady, NY recommend you keep in mind a few things about services for veterans.
The most important thing you need to know is to let the office of Veterans’ Affairs know of the death as soon as possible. Everything takes time when making these arrangements, and you want to make certain that the VA has plenty of time to plan what you want for your loved one. Be sure to have at hand lots of information on your loved one’s military career. The VA will ask for proof that your loved one was a veteran, so do take some time to gather paperwork.
The government makes it possible for you to bury a loved one in a national cemetery for veterans. The government will pay for the opening and closing of the grave, as well as for perpetual maintenance of it. For people who cannot afford all of this, having the government do it can be important. You always want to learn about the options that you have available and you want to ask lots of questions from the VA and from funerary experts about it.
You can also have the government provide the gravesite with a marker. These can be made of metal or stone and then will be a beautiful way of letting everyone know your loved one was a veteran. This can also help you save some money if you are working with a limited budget.
If your loved one would have wanted it, you can also have taps played at the service. There can also be gun salutes, though these take more time to plan, so you will want to let the government know about it substantially in advance. They can be a moving tribute to your loved one.
When getting ready to make arrangements for a loved one who was a veteran, being sure that you know what to expect from the different options the government offers is crucial. You always want to contact he VA first and ask the for information on the options you have. You still want to turn to a local funerary expert, however, so that you do not have to worry about anything being amiss. If you want to get started making arrangements, you can turn to a Schenectady, NY cremation service provider and funeral home like us at McVeigh Funeral Home, Inc. We are ready to make all of this easier for your and your family. Stop by our location or give us a call right now.
