Veterans Benefits

To be eligible, you must be a military member on active duty, military retiree, member or former member of the Selected Reserve, eligible U.S. veteran of any war, or other U.S. veteran who served at least one term of enlistment and separated under conditions other than dishonorable. Armed forces members who die on active duty are also eligible, as are spouses and dependent children of eligible living and deceased veterans, and of current and deceased armed forces members. Contact our local Office for Veterans Affairs at (515) 295-9036 or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at (800) 827-1000 for more information.

Veterans benefits are not paid automatically. Oakcrest will notify the appropriate agencies and take care of the details. Social Security pays a lump sum death benefit directly to the spouse if eligible. Veterans receive cash benefits based on disability or other requirements.

Send a copy of your discharge papers (DD214) that we will keep in our permanent files. If you wish, call us and we will handle all details over the phone.

Military honors are available to all veterans regardless of rank or location of burial. Honors may include honor guard, Chaplain, flag folding and presentation to next of kin, rifle salute and the playing of TAPS.

VA provides an American flag to drape over the casket of a veteran. VA will also provide a flag on behalf of a service member who was missing in action and later presumed dead. The Military provides a wood flag case for any active duty deaths.

All veterans, and possibly their spouses and children, are entitled to free cemetery space, grave opening/closing, grave liner and headstone at a VA cemetery. Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. We will help you apply for spaces at the time of death, and will work with you so you receive all available options. Iowa has a state veterans cemetery located in Adel and a national cemetery located in Keokuk. For more information on national cemeteries, call toll-free 1-800-827-1000 or visit http://www.cem.va.gov.

If you are eligible, Oakcrest Funeral Services will handle all paperwork and ordering for the appropriate military marker.

When buried in a national, state veteran or military cemetery
VA provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans (and any eligible dependents) anywhere in the world. The design will mark the grave in a style consistent with the place of burial. Niche markers also are available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

When buried in a cemetery other than a national cemetery
Eligible veterans with a privately purchased headstone can receive a Medallion or Bronze Niche from the VA to be affixed to their monument. For more information on military markers, visit http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hmm/types.asp.

A Presidential Memorial Certificate is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased Veterans. The certificate has the current President’s signature expressing the country’s grateful recognition of the Veteran’s service in the United States Armed Forces. Eligible recipients include the next of kin and loved ones of honorably discharged deceased Veterans. More than one certificate may be provided. Oakcrest Funeral Services will handle all paperwork and ordering of the certificates.