Page 26 - FOP Magazine March 2019

Planning ahead for military funerals
Hello, my fraternal brothers and sisters. This month I’m writing about a difficult subject,
but one that we all will confront someday. Recently, a fraternal brother had a fami-
The VA offers survivors burial benefits kits as a source of pre- need planning information and record storage for veter- ans and their families. This kit includes “Planning for the Future,” a section to guide survivors through possible end-of-life issues and survivor benefits eligibility. This y section details benefits offered, including when and
ly member pass away unexpectedly. Like
many of us, his loved one had no plans
for his burial, nor had he made his wish-
es known. The fraternal brother’s family members had difficulty agreeing on what their loved one would have wanted, and this caused
many heated discussions. Our fraternal brother requested my assistance as he sought out information on options for a mili- tary veteran, so I’ve decided to share them here with all my fra- ternal brothers and sisters.
“America without her soldiers would be like God without his angels.” — Claudia Pemberton summed it up for me. Military funeral honors are a way to show the nation’s deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defend- ed our country. This ceremonial paying of respects is the final demonstration that a grateful nation can provide to a veteran’s family. The core elements of the funeral honors ceremony are the playing of “Taps,” the flag folding and the flag presentation. Additional elements that could be provided as part of the funer- al honors ceremony include: rifle detail, color guard, pallbear- ers, caisson and military flyover. Many of the military funeral honors may also be conducted at non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cemeteries.
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how to apply. There’s also a section identifying the loca- tion of important documents, account numbers, military discharge documents and marital information. They even provide samples of completed forms that may be needed in the application process. To download a kit, visit this link: https://
www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/docs/vasurvivorskit.pdf.
The VA operates national cemeteries, which are open to all members of the armed forces and veterans who meet the min- imum active-duty service requirements and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Members of the re- serve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty or who die while on training duty under certain circum- stances are also eligible for burial, as are servicemembers and former servicemembers who were eligible for retired pay at the time of their death. A veteran’s spouse, widow or widower, mi- nor children and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the veteran. The nearest VA national cemetery to us is Lincoln Cem- etery in Joliet. It is open to the public, and anyone may visit the
sacred grounds.
Keep in mind that the VA determines eligibility for burial. I
recommend receiving preapproval by submitting VA Form 40- 10007, Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, along with a copy of support- ing documentation of military service (such as a DD 214) to the VA toll-free fax at 855-840-8299; or email to eligibility.preneed@ va.gov; or mail to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, P.O. Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151. At the very least, have this form completed, along with a copy of your DD 214, so your loved one doesn’t have to scramble looking for these documents.
The gravesites in the VA national cemeteries cannot be re- served in advance of need. But once there is a need, a funeral director or the next of kin should contact the National Ceme- tery Scheduling Office. If you were not pre-approved, then all discharge documentation must be faxed to the National Ceme- tery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417 and followed up with a phone call to 800-535-1117. For more information, visit https:// www.cem.va.gov/cem/docs/factsheets/burial.pdf.
Lastly, the VA will provide — at no cost to the veteran’s family — a gravesite, headstone or marker, Presidential Memorial Cer- tificate (signed by the current POTUS), U.S. flag, perpetual care of the gravesite and opening and closing of the grave. Fees for services provided by funeral directors and other related costs must be paid for by the veteran’s family. Once again, I suggest we all speak with our loved ones and make our wishes known. Additionally, inform your next of kin where important docu- ments such as your DD 214 are stored. If the decision is made to be buried at a national cemetery, then obtaining pre-approval is suggested. Make it easy on your loved ones during a difficult time.
If you have questions, concerns or comments, please email LTC_Cruz@wowway.com.
JERRY CRUZ
26 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2019