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When a veteran passes away well after active duty, it’s easy to forget that the individual has access to veteran benefits. Government funds are available to defray the cost of the funeral, and the Veteran’s Administration provides veteran funeral services in Brooklyn. Once you gather the required paperwork, call Harmony Funeral Home for help applying to the VA for the benefits you’re due, so you can have a meaningful veteran’s funeral for your loved one.
What Are Veteran Funeral Services in Brooklyn?
A veteran’s funeral is a special type of funeral service designed to honor and commemorate a person who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. If your loved one was a veteran, this funeral allows you to pay tribute to their dedication, sacrifice and service to the nation. If you’re arranging a veteran’s funeral, make sure the deceased met the requirements to be eligible for veteran funeral services in Brooklyn, including:
- Served in active duty
- Received a discharge other than a dishonorable
- Served in selected reserves who meet the above condition
- Passed away under Veteran Administration (VA) care
- Not convicted of a capital crime
Harmony Funeral Home is recognized by the National Funeral Directors Association for its outstanding community service and innovative funeral practices. Their team helps you complete the paperwork to ensure you receive the benefits your loved one earned.
What Makes Veteran Services Different from Regular Funeral Services?
Veteran funeral services in Brooklyn focus on the deceased’s military service, which becomes the highlight of their life story. The funeral reflects that honor. You have access to powerful, deeply symbolic traditions with a veteran’s funeral, including:
- A U.S. flag placed over the casket
- The respectful folding and presentation of the flag to you or your family
- A military honor guard, often including a rifle salute
- The playing of Taps, a solemn military bugle call
- Burial in a national or state veterans cemetery, if qualified
This funeral service carries emotional weight. It allows you and your loved ones to witness the formal recognition of a veteran’s service in the U.S. military. As a veteran’s family member, you’re entitled to certain benefits that regular funeral services don’t offer, such as:
- A burial allowance to help offset the funeral costs
- A government-issued headstone or grave marker
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by the President
- Burial in a VA cemetery often at no charge, if qualified and desired
What Documents Are Needed for a Veteran’s Funeral?
The VA requires proof of eligibility before they provide benefits for military funeral honors programs. Submitting the correct paperwork ensures that your loved one receives the veteran funeral services in Brooklyn that they deserve. Without these documents, you can expect delays or limitations. To plan a veteran’s funeral with full honors and benefits, you need to submit:
- Form DD214,which confirms military service and discharge, essential for all honors and benefits
- Death certificate,needed for the burial allowance and cemetery arrangements
- Veteran’s Social Security number,which verifies identity for benefit applications
- Marriage certificate,which is required if a spouse is applying for the burial benefits
- Dependent or birth certificates,needed when applying for a child’s or dependent’s burial
- Military awards or honors,Which are optional, but useful for customizing the service or verifying honors
At Harmony Funeral Home, you receive expert support for Social Security and veterans benefits. You can add personal touches that reflect your loved one’s faith, as well, whether you observe Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu. Contact Harmony Funeral Home at 718-469-6666 for veteran funeral services in Brooklyn.
Harmony Funeral Home
2200 Clarendon Rd.,
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(718) 469-6666