Veterans Benefits

GOOD NEWS FOR VETERANS

For many years, to receive your veterans burial benefits, your only option was to be buried in a National Cemetery, the closest one being at Bushnell., some 90 miles south of Gainesville. That remains an option that Forest Meadows can provide.

The second option that we are offering veterans is to choose to be buried in Gainesville in the Forest Meadows Military Garden of Honor. This permits you to choose to be buried close to your loved ones rather than in a distant cemetery. While Forest Meadows can arrange your burial in a National Cemetery, we can also arrange your burial in Gainesville and save you over $1,720. This is only available on a prearrangement basis. A veteran will receive the following: one grave space, opening and closing of the grave, and a base for the free military marker. An outer burial container, which is required by the cemetery for ground burial, is not included.

Forest Meadows funeral home will conduct funeral services in your choice of either our funeral home or mausoleum chapel here in Gainesville or at graveside or in the church of your choice within 25 miles of Gainesville. We offer a veterans benefits program for those who prefer cremation rather than traditional burial. This opportunity of receiving your veterans benefits savings in Gainesville, rather than 90 miles away at Bushnell, is offered exclusively through Forest Meadows funeral home.

A. VA Cash Benefits For Reimbursement of Burial Expenses - $300 is available for an honorably discharged veteran, IF: they were in receipt of  VA non-service-connected disability pension benefits or service-connected compensation benefits at the time of death or IF the death occurred in a VA hospital, or VA contracted health care facility. Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be paid. B. Active Duty or Service Connected Death - $2,000 is available IF the veteran died during active duty; or is an honorably discharged veteran and died as a result of a service-connected injury. C. Burial Plot Allowance - $300 is available for an honorably discharged veteran not interred in a cemetery that is under the jurisdiction of the US government, IF: the veteran was receiving VA non-service-connected disability pension or service-connected compensation benefits at the time of death or IF the death occurred in a VA hospital, or VA contracted health care facility. D. US flag - An honorably discharged veteran is entitled to a US flag provided by the Veterans Administration. E. Headstone or Marker - In a National Cemetery, a veteran, spouse of veteran, and dependent children receive a free headstone. For burial in a private cemetery, a simple marker for veterans ONLY will be provided, if allowed by the cemetery officials. Reserved space for future inscription of spousal data may be allowed. The grave no longer has to be 'unmarked' unless the death was prior to September 11, 2001. F. Burial in a National Cemetery - Free space is available for a veteran, spouse and dependent children (except Arlington). At the time of death, we will notify the Veterans Administration. For specific questions concerning eligibility claims and benefits please contact the Forest Meadows Funeral Home.