Did you know if you are a VET you get a free grave and marker in a National Cemetery?

[babsbunny]

We did not know that, and Dad has been gone since 1986. Since then Mom passed in 2001 and they both were cremated and I had their ashes. Just by chance, looking around the internets we found out they can be buried free and get a free marker. Today we took the ashes to Dayton National Cemetery, they played Taps and shot of some kind of loud gun, it was nice. But now they have a place.

[Boom Sound 416]

1. Thank you for this post

[sufrommich]

2. You can also get an American flag to bury him with or keep as

a remembrance. It's really weird that this came up because yesterday I was waiting at the pharmacy and talking to an old marine about this very thing. My dad was a marine (he's still alive) but didn't know that he could get his medals sent to him if his were lost (which they are) one time only.You may be able to get your dad's medals too. Every year your dad's headstone will get a small american flag decoration on Memorial day courtesy of vet groups,at least in Michigan that is done.

[mikemcl350]

3. true

you need their honorable discharge papers and I think a copy of the death certificate. the funeral home can help out with it too.
you don't have a grave site ceremony, they take the casket there after you leave. you get the uniform grave marker and there were some choices of engraving . they will have a chapel usually and you leave the casket there but they fold a flag and present it to the family and do a nice send off. did it for my dad and it was very nice and saved me thousands in cemetery fees and my mom can be buried with him when its time.

[HockeyMom]

4. Daughter of a deceased WW2 Vet

Yes, I knew that. My husband is also a Nam Vet, and it applies to him also.

[wandy]

5. Good that you pointed that out.

[angstlessk]

6. At my father's grave, Catholic cemetary, not military, they played taps

and gave the 21 gun salute at his grave...that was 7 soldiers firing 3 times...then the folding of the flag from his coffin...

He was a WWII veteran...it was very impressive and sad..it was my first funeral...and the absolute best, if a funeral of a loved one can be considered anything but sad...it did leave a lasting impression of his funeral.

[csziggy]

7. At my father's grave ceremony they played Taps

But it was too short notice to set up the 21 gun salute. They also did the flag folding ceremony, which was very nice. The Navy base in Tampa sent over the personnel, an officer and two young Naval enlisted. The young woman played Taps.

The Veteran's grave marker took several months to arrive, but it marks the foot of Dad's grave.

We need to be more prepared to arrange Mom's ceremony. She deserves the honors as much as Dad did - both were Navy in WWI, Dad in submarines, Mom in the Navy Nurses.

[Deuce]

8. Yes...

[Wounded Bear]

9. Yeah, I have a brother in Tahoma Cemetary here in WA state...

I'll probably end up there, too.

I have a second brother who had his long term wife interred there, and his spot is reserved to be interred with her when the time comes. She was not a vet, but they do that, too.