When it comes to Veteran Burial Arrangements there can be a lot of confusion. We hope this article will help answer your questions.
The funeral home or next-of-kin should contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office to make burial arrangements for Veterans, spouses and/or eligible dependents.
The funeral home can fax all available military discharge documents to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at (866) 900-6417 or scan and email the documentation to NCA.Scheduling@va.gov with the name of the decedent in the subject line. Follow up with a call to (800) 535-1117 in order to schedule the interment.
If military discharge documents are not available, a scheduling office representative can assist with the verification process. Requests for eligibility determination when no military discharge documents are available may require 48 hours or more for verification.
For Veteran Burial Arrangements
Contact the cemetery to:
• Reschedule or cancel interments.
• Schedule memorial services without interment.
• Change information initially provided to the scheduling office.
• Request disinterment or relocation of remains.
Burial benefits provided by the National Cemetery Administration, at no cost to the family, include: a burial plot; opening and closing of the grave site; a government grave liner; a headstone or marker with inscription; a burial flag; a Presidential Memorial Certificate and perpetual care of the grave site. Funeral director services are not covered.
Grave sites are assigned by the cemetery and cannot be selected in advance. Assignments are made without regard to rank, ethnic or religious background, branch of service or other factors.
There is no waiting list for burial in a VA national cemetery. The Veteran and spouse are interred in the same grave. Spouses and eligible children may be buried even if they predecease the Veteran. If both are Veterans, they may choose to be buried in adjacent graves.
Military honors are provided by the Department of Defense and are arranged by the funeral director. If there is no funeral director, cemetery staff will assist the family in arranging military honors.
Miramar National Cemetery has the following-burial site options:
• Casket: in-ground only
• Cremation: in-ground
• Cremation: above ground columbarium
The administration office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed on designated holidays.
Additional Links for Veteran Burial Arrangements: