Veterans Services

We not only appreciate veterans, but thank them for their service to our country. We are trained in handling any type of military service. In order for us to plan any type of military funerals, we must have a copy of the veterans discharge papers (DD-214) and they must have been discharged under honorable conditions. Below are benefits for those who do not wish to be buried in a national cemetery.

Military honors.
Free U.S. flag.
Free memorial headstone.
Free presidential memorial certificate. We can help you apply for one.

Many veterans are choosing to be buried in a national cemetery. These cemeteries are beautifully maintained and are a peaceful retreat to honor our veterans. Below are some of the benefits available for those who wish to be buried in a national cemetery. In a national cemetery, a veterans spouse, minor children, and in some circumstances, unmarried adult children are eligible for free burial without a flag or military honors.

Free burial space.
Free burial vault.
Free opening and closing of grave.
Free memorial headstone.
Free U.S. Flag
Free Presidential memorial certificate. We can help you apply for one.

Military Honors

Military honors for members of the armed forces consists of folding of the burial flag and the playing of taps. If a rifle volley is requested, the funeral home will contact the Midland Honor Guard to schedule. Please note that the Midland Honor Guard is a volunteer based service, their availability is first come first serve, they do not perform services past 2 pm, and they will not perform honors in cemeteries during the winter or extreme heat.

If your loved one passed away while on active duty, please give our funeral home a call and we can coordinate details. We have done many dignified arrivals for service members and are trained in coordinating the details for these types of services.

Veterans Headstones

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. For eligible veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, the VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already marked with a private headstone or marker. When the grave is already marked, applicants will have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or marker, or a new device (available spring 2009).

Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.

Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a government-furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a national cemetery, state veteran's cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.

Note: There is no charge for the headstone or marker itself, however arrangements for placing it in a private cemetery are the applicant's responsibility and all setting fees are at private expense. Our funeral home will help with these arrangements when requested.

Veterans Burial Flags

A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to accompany the casket or urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U. S. Armed Forces. It is furnished to honor the memory of a veteran's military service to his or her country. Please note that the government will only provide one flag. Flags for additional family members may be purchased by the family online. When military honors are performed, the honors team will only fold and present one flag to the next of kin. Occasionally the honors team may present pre-folded flags to additional family members, however, the honors team can refuse to perform this additional service.

A veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge
A service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training
The spouse or minor child of a veteran, even if the veteran died first
In some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a veteran

Who is Eligible to Receive the Burial Flag?

Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use during the service. When there is no next-of-kin, VA will furnish the flag to a friend making request for it. For those VA national cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags, families of veterans buried in these national cemeteries may donate the burial flags of their loved ones to be flown on patriotic holidays. With a copy of the veterans discharge papers, our funeral home will provide the flag.

Can a Burial Flag Be Replaced?

The law allows us to issue one flag for a veteran's funeral. We cannot replace it if it is lost, destroyed, or stolen. However, some veterans' organizations or other community groups may be able to help you get another flag. Flags are also available to purchase online in the size of government flags. Our funeral home would be honored to help fold the flag properly.

How Should the Burial Flag Be Displayed?

During services the flag may be draped over the casket or properly folded and put on display. When the flag is taken home it should be kept in a safe container such as a vinyl pouch or decorative flag case, both of which are available at our funeral home. The colors on flags will fade over time if put in direct sunlight and it will not hold up well if displayed outdoors.

Veterans Services