What the VA provides
Eligible veterans may receive burial benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which can include burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and in some cases a monetary burial allowance. Spouses and dependents may also have eligibility. The details depend on service history and discharge status — the VA makes the determination, not the cemetery or funeral home.
How scheduling works
Arrangements involving VA benefits run through the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office. Evergreen Cemetery participates in this program and can assist eligible veterans and their families with the process. In practice, your funeral director and our office coordinate the paperwork; the family's main task is to provide the veteran's service information — ideally the discharge document (DD-214) or whatever record you have. Partial information is workable; tell us what you know.
A dedicated veterans' section since the 1940s
Evergreen has maintained a dedicated veterans' section since it was established to honor those who served in World War II. Veterans may be buried among fellow service members on grounds that have been a place of remembrance since 1853, close to family in the New York/New Jersey metro area — often a meaningful alternative to a national cemetery farther from home.
What to do before the need arises
- Locate the veteran's discharge papers (DD-214) and keep them with other important documents
- Tell your family the veteran wishes to use their burial benefits — unclaimed benefits are usually unclaimed because no one knew
- Consider pre-need planning: benefits can be incorporated into a pre-need arrangement, and New Jersey requires pre-need cemetery funds to be held in trust
At the time of need
Notify our office of the veteran's service status when making arrangements — that single sentence starts the benefits process. If a loss has just occurred, our at-need services page is the fastest way to reach a dedicated staff member. For advance planning, see pre-need planning.
Prefer to send a written request? The form below is the fastest way to reach us — we respond within one business day. If you'd rather speak with the office during business hours, our staff can be reached at 908.352.7940.