Eligibility
Burial & Interment Options
During burial arrangements, the family will work with the funeral home and cemetery staff to determine the type of interment the family wishes.
The interment options are below. Please contact the cemetery staff or the Texas VLB if you have questions. Whatever interment option the family chooses, the family may request a final committal service at the cemetery prior to interment. Military honors are presented during this committal service (if they have not been previously rendered elsewhere). These respectful committal services are held in covered committal shelters, with the burial following at the grave site.
- Interment Options
- A casketed burial. An upright marble or granite headstone is provided.
- Interment of cremated remains and placement in a columbarium. Cremation urns may be no larger than 13 inches tall, by 10 inches wide, by 9 inches deep. A marble or granite niche cover is provided.
- Interment of cremated remains and placement in an in-ground burial section. A marble or granite marker is provided.
- Scattering of cremated remains in the scattering garden. A marble or granite marker is provided in the memorial section.
- Charges for Interment
- Texas State Veterans Cemetery burials are a benefit earned by Veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependents for their dedicated service to our country. There is no charge for interment of Veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents. The burial benefit includes military honors for Veterans, grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, a concrete grave liner for casketed burials, a headstone or marker, burial flag presentation to the next of kin, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, playing of Taps, a gun salute and perpetual care of the grave. The funeral home will obtain a burial flag to accompany the Veteran's casket or urn and will assist with requesting military honors.
- The burial benefit for Veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents does not cover funeral home charges such as the cost of a casket, cremation, viewing, flower cars, or transportation of the remains and family. However, if the Veteran dies of a service-connected cause of death, the family may be eligible for reimbursement from the VA for some of the funeral home costs up to $2,000.
Information regarding burials at sea can be obtained by contacting the U.S. Navy. Additional information can be found on the VA Website.
Gravesite Locator & Service Schedule
Each Texas State Veterans Cemetery has a grave-locator kiosk on site to locate Veterans interred at each location. For a more detailed search of Veterans buried at any national cemetery, state cemetery, or Veteran with a government-issued headstone installed at a private cemetery, please visit the VA Website.
Pre-Registration
Although you can't reserve a burial space, you can pre-register. Complete an interment pre-registration form, attaching a copy of the military discharge form (DD-214) (and a copy of a marriage certificate, if applicable). Send these documents to the Texas State Veterans Cemetery of your choice. The cemetery will verify your eligibility, inform you accordingly, and maintain a copy of these documents so that the next of kin doesn't have to find them at the time of need.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration
Please visit the VA Website for information regarding the National Cemetery Administration.
Obtaining Service Documents: National Personnel Records Center
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is the central repository of millions of military personnel, health and medical records of discharged and deceased Veterans of all branches of service during the 20th century. (Records prior to World War I are in Washington, DC). NPRC also stores all military retirees' medical treatment, as well as records for dependents and other persons treated at naval medical facilities. Records information is available upon written request (with signature and date) to the extent allowed by law. To obtain service documents or other relevant military records, visit the NPRC Website.
Texas Military Forces (TXMF) Members
The burial benefit for an eligible TXMF member includes the same Interment Options as listed above.
Additionally, the burial benefit comprises military honors (provided by State Color Guard), grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, a concrete grave liner for casketed burials, a headstone or marker (provided by State), a (Texas) burial flag presentation to the next of kin; a Gubernatorial Memorial Certificate, playing of Taps, a gun salute (in certain instances, or if available) and perpetual care of the grave. The Texas State Veterans Cemetery where the individual is to be interred will provide a Texas burial flag to accompany the TXMF member’s casket or urn and may assist with requesting military honors (State Color Guard) through the Veterans Land Board and/or Texas Military Department.
The burial benefit does not cover funeral home charges such as the cost of a casket, cremation, viewing, flower cars, or transportation of the remains and family; however, there are no costs for anything at the Texas State Veterans Cemeteries.