For most people who plan to be buried in a cemetery, a local one or one located back in the person's hometown, is usually the first choice. For some, however, the option of a state or national cemetery is available. Being buried in a state or national cemetery (such as a veterans' cemetery or a state historical cemetery) is an honor and not one that's easy to turn down. Still, if you're not sure which location might be a better choice, just think about what it would take to be approved for burial in each location and whether your accomplishments or being in a family plot are more important to you.
Family Plots Versus Remembering Deeds Done
Veterans often have the option of being buried in a VA cemetery, which is a very nice way to remember their service to the country and allows them to have a final resting place with military buddies, even if the actual graves aren't located next to each other. Others, however, opt for a regular funeral at a regular cemetery with military honors, which can be as simple as having a trumpeter play and having a ceremonial flag folded by servicepeople and handed to the surviving family. It comes down to whether you want your final resting place to be linked to family or your military career.
Getting Necessary Approvals
Take a look at the approval process for the national or state cemetery. For example, a state cemetery might require that people either have held specific government posts or died in office, or have the state legislature or governor nominate them via proclamation, resolution, or order. There may be additional committee approvals needed. Some people might not want to deal with approvals and instead will turn down the opportunity. Others will get to work right away on getting approval.
What You've Already Prepaid
If you've already started prepaying for funeral costs, and you've just found out you're eligible to be buried in a national or state cemetery, you have some options. One is that there may still be a money-back period from the funeral home, but that will vary greatly between homes. Another option is to sell your plot or other pre-arranged items to a family member who wants to be buried in a regular cemetery. This has to be done with the permission of the cemetery management, but they usually let these sales go through and rarely, if ever, delay them.
You may want to speak to cemetery and funeral home managers about your options to see which one suits you best. Talk to your family, too, and remember that the final decision is yours.
Reach out to a cemetery in your area to learn more.
Share20 April 2021
When you love someone deeply, it can really hurt to lose them. Unfortunately, millions of people every year are put in that situation, creating an intense amount of hurt for themselves and their families. Fortunately, working with the right funeral home can really improve the outcome of your individual challenges. I wanted to start a website that centered around planning memorial services efficiently and effectively, so you aren't burdened by a lot of details on the day you should be focused on what's really important: friends, family, and remembering the person you lost. Read these posts to learn more about planning a memorial.