Posted on Dec 31, 2015
Have you indicated in your Last Will and Testament that you want to be buried in a National Cemetery with full or normal military honors?
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Have you indicated in your Last Will and Testament that you want to be buried in a National Cemetery with full or normal military honors?
RP Members this is something that is very important to me and something that I've discussed with my family. It is something that all families need to discuss and be prepared for if you are a veteran and wish to utilize your veteran benefits either at a National Cemetery, State Cemetery, or Private Cemetery.
Have you prepared for it?
Do you think it is an honor and privilege as a veteran to be buried at a National Cemetery with full or normal military honors (or) you don't care either way or haven't planned for that day yet?
The VA provides a number of resources for this very important matter:
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/burial_benefits/index.asp
I bring this up because we just experience the death of my father-in-law (Vietnam Veteran) there is still a cost to make arrangements through your local funeral home for a visitation, transportation, cremation, and other arrangements that can start at around $6,000.00 and go up. This is before any VA Benefits come into the process.
RP Members this is something that is very important to me and something that I've discussed with my family. It is something that all families need to discuss and be prepared for if you are a veteran and wish to utilize your veteran benefits either at a National Cemetery, State Cemetery, or Private Cemetery.
Have you prepared for it?
Do you think it is an honor and privilege as a veteran to be buried at a National Cemetery with full or normal military honors (or) you don't care either way or haven't planned for that day yet?
The VA provides a number of resources for this very important matter:
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/burial_benefits/index.asp
I bring this up because we just experience the death of my father-in-law (Vietnam Veteran) there is still a cost to make arrangements through your local funeral home for a visitation, transportation, cremation, and other arrangements that can start at around $6,000.00 and go up. This is before any VA Benefits come into the process.
Funeral
Planning
What Would You Do
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 57
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs thanks for the thread. I have not, 2016 will be the year I get my Will together and I do want to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This is an important event, even though it deals with death. I served my country and this is the final salute. It has to be squared away! Thanks for the assist!
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Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, Earth to Earth and Water back to the Sea. Cremation then dump my Ashes in the Columbia River to take me back to the Pacific Ocean. I was here and then no more.
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SPC (Join to see)
Same here my man but I want my ashes to be spread in the wind from a very high place
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SN Greg Wright
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel The Columbia? Are you in Washington or Oregon? I'm in Oregon.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SN Greg Wright - Washington and Oregon are my Vacation Spots. I retired from the Navy there and my Wee People are there. My Son is in Bremerton, WA my Daughter is in Sherwood, OR so that is where I go to hang with my Grandchildren.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Whenever we Set Sail it was always with Several Urns of Ashes for Burial at Sea.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs Salt water runs in my veins, Colonel, after 28 years. Cremate me and then send me home to Davey Jone's locker.
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Interesting question. I'm looking at a cremation and placement in a wall with my wife besise her mother and father. The plaques are pretty restricted as far as the amount of lettering so the chances are there wont be anything about my service on it. I was thinking that I will probably ask my brother to sneak some of my ashes down to MCRD and dump them on the parade ground and the PT field so the recruits will be breathing me in. That way I will always be a part of the Corps. Totally illegal but i'm not going to ask permission, maybe forgiveness. Also would want my family to buy a brick for me in the DI monument.
One thing I would like to do ahead of time as well is write a personel thank you note to the Marines who will provide the burial detail for taking care of me on my final trip.
One thing I would like to do ahead of time as well is write a personel thank you note to the Marines who will provide the burial detail for taking care of me on my final trip.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
"Better to ask forgiveness than permission" & "Good initiative, bad judgement" Just have him say you told him to say that if he got caught.
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
Oh he wont get caught. I just want to write the apology letter so they know I got away with it...
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
1stSgt Eugene Harless - 5x5 brass placard left glued to parade deck after a gradation? "On these hallowed grounds 'floats' the ashes of"
DI's equiv of "boots over the wire"
DI's equiv of "boots over the wire"
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - There is a DI monument by the Parade deck in San Diego. with a walkway of Bricks. It was financed by the DI Association selling personalized bricks. Having one of them will do just fine for me.
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I have made arrangements and told my brothers to bury me in a state veterans cemetery, should I predecease them. We have a nice one here in Montana and frankly I'm rather fond of Ft. Harrison. Now to make sure my wishes are in my will - a very good plan for 2016!
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Sgt (Join to see)
Sir, you are eligible:
Persons Eligible for Burial in a VA National Cemetery
A. Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard):
•Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies on active duty.
•Any veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. With certain exceptions, service after September 7, 1980, must be for a minimum of 24 months or the full period for which the person was called to active duty. Undesirable, bad conduct, and any type of discharge other than honorable may or may not qualify the individual for veterans benefits, depending upon a special determination made by the Adjudication Officer at a VA Regional Office. Cases presenting multiple discharges of varying character are also referred for adjudication to a VA Regional Office.
•Any citizen of the United States who, during any war in which the United States has been or may hereafter be engaged, served in the Armed Forces of any Government allied with the United States during that war, whose last active service terminated honorably by death or otherwise, and who was a citizen of the United States at the time of entry into such service and at the time of death.
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/burial_benefits/eligible.asp
Persons Eligible for Burial in a VA National Cemetery
A. Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard):
•Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies on active duty.
•Any veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. With certain exceptions, service after September 7, 1980, must be for a minimum of 24 months or the full period for which the person was called to active duty. Undesirable, bad conduct, and any type of discharge other than honorable may or may not qualify the individual for veterans benefits, depending upon a special determination made by the Adjudication Officer at a VA Regional Office. Cases presenting multiple discharges of varying character are also referred for adjudication to a VA Regional Office.
•Any citizen of the United States who, during any war in which the United States has been or may hereafter be engaged, served in the Armed Forces of any Government allied with the United States during that war, whose last active service terminated honorably by death or otherwise, and who was a citizen of the United States at the time of entry into such service and at the time of death.
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/burial_benefits/eligible.asp
Eligibility - National Cemetery Administration
The VA National Cemetery Administration honors the military service of our Nation's Veterans. We provide a dignified burial and lasting memorial for Veterans and their eligible family members and we maintain our Veterans' cemeteries as national shrines.
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SFC Bill Snyder
i have a question to the group. I was under the impression, due to space considerations, the only ones being buried in Arlington are holders of the
Silver Star or higher, and those killed in combat.
Silver Star or higher, and those killed in combat.
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SFC Bill Snyder
i guess I answered my own question. After reading some of the posts, I went to the Arlington website and read the criteria for burial there.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Scheduling-a-Funeral/Establishing-Eligibility/Ground-Burial
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Scheduling-a-Funeral/Establishing-Eligibility/Ground-Burial
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COL Mikel Burroughs, you bring up a great point. How many of us actually have a will/trust/POA/medical POA? Where do you wish to be buried? Do you want to be cremated? Do you have a life insurance policy? Resuscitate? Donate your organs? None of us will live forever. My team and I educate people on these things. If you do not have them it's a great idea to get them now. It will cause less burden on your loved ones down the road.
http://www.protectionthatpays.com/
http://www.protectionthatpays.com/
We believe the following less than 5-minute video will be very captivating, insightful and enlightening. Welcome To FES.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
MAJ (Join to see) You brought up some other great considerations yourself that I didn't cover in my discussion! Thank you very much for the added details! By the way I owe you an endorsement and vote up tomorrow - out of both for today! Happy New Year!
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MAJ (Join to see)
No problem COL Mikel Burroughs, thank you! It's not always a comfortable thing to think about, but it is necessary. And happy new year to you as well!
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I got out in 1969 & I knew I wanted to be close for any family that lived here in my home town. I Bought a plot in at that time a new cemetery & was to be in a military section. Well I didn't get in the military section but I did get a plot that 2 could be buried in one on top of the other. It just happens to be surrounded by WW 2 vets that my Dad & I have known for almost all of my life. I paid it off in 1989 & have a head stone already on site with my name & wife's name. I am wanting more info on my head stone than the room on there now, so thinking of a second stone beside of the one there now. I found out AFTER I paid my plot off that my Dad had bought in addition to his plots another 6 plots for family & didn't think to tell me before I paid mine off, LOL... I hope my brothers decide SOON if they want them or not so I can deed to them or sell! I am torn between cremation or not, cheaper for a vase of ashes just don't know which way I want to be stashed away..
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
PO2 Sam Messer I decided to go with the cremation because it is less expensive and I don't want to burden my family with additional expenses and it is easier to transport to Arlington National Cemetery as well. It can be shipped securely and for a lot less expense then a coffin - things to think about as we get older. Not a subject a lot of familes like to talk about, but prior planning prevents poor performance! or so the saying goes!
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