Military Services

Mrs. Young is the Temple VFW Post 1820 Service Officer who ensures your family recieves all of your families entitlements.  We host various events throughout the year to honor our trusted families. You will recieve an invite to Join us for

* Presidential Banquet: This event is held in Janurary at the Post were we formally present your families Presdiential Certificate  and cook a homemade spegetthi dinner for your faimily. 

*Request a  Bell Ringing Ceremony at your local cemetery in honor veterans in the cemetery during memorial day. 

*You can purchase a  personalized brick for the  Patriots Way located downtown Belton and go to the Veteran's Day Ceremony in honor of your Veteran. 

* We partner with our local military organizations to honor your loved one during their charter draping. 

*VFW/AL/AUX membership opportunities

* We are proud Operation Phantom Warrior affilates

*Operation Play Chess will make a chess kit with your loved ones name on it to distribute in their care packagees to active duty soliders.

* We volunteer and ruck for our families through the Rucks on Main (downtown) Temple

*Veteran and their families are entitled to FREE Crafting kit classes through our partners help heal vets and our berevaement calander.

* Purchase a memorial tree for the Temple Parks and rec or for our property and have your loved ones plaque under in memorial. 

* Our families appreiate our annual "A walk to remember" held every 2nd Decemeber with a yard poster and candlight ceremony to walk us through the park. 

For families with an honorably discharged Veteran, there are many different types of benefits that are available to you. Did you know Benefits are available on Federal, State and Local (County Based) levels.

• We secure  the 9’ X 5.5” American Flag (You have the choice for it to be placed in the casket then folded and presented to the family or tri-folded on display, unfolded to be refolded and presented to the family.)
• We order your Free grave marker/headstone/footstone (Granite or Bronze, with the options of Flat or Upright) or a Medallion to be affixed to a headstone, will need cemeterians signiture before ordering. 
• We secure Military Honors (Typically Taps are played and a Flag Presentation) Upon eligibility; a  Gun Salute,  or Chaplain can be requested. 
• We request unlimited amounts of Presidential Certificate(s) to be presented to your family at our Presidential Banquet. 
• We honorable request all your veterans awards and ribbons to provide to you for your shadow box. 
• We apply for the Burial reimbursement  packet application
• We will coordinate with local membership organization and Patriot Guard Riders for their presence and ceremonies to your family. 
• We know the right channels to help your VA, Tricare, and DEERs  survivor benefits. 

Wartime Veteran Benefits

If Burial is NOT in a NATIONAL CEMETERY may include :

• Transportation from a VA hospital to the Funeral Home
• Transportation from Funeral Home to any Cemetery if Veteran died in a VA facility or was receiving disability or pension at the time of death
• United States Flag
• Cemetery Flag Marker
• Government Marker for the Veteran; may include spouse’s name if requested.
• Monetary Burial and plot allowance for a Veteran who dies in a VA Hospital and/or is receiving a disability and/or pension at the time of death
• Presidential Certificate(s)

If Burial IS in a National Cemetery may include:

• Transportation from a VA hospital to the Funeral Home
• Transportation from Funeral Home to any Cemetery if Veteran died in a VA facility or was receiving disability or pension at the time of death
• United States Flag
• Cemetery Flag Marker
• Government Marker for the Veteran; may include spouse’s name if requested.
• A Monetary Burial allowance for a Veteran who is buried in a National Cemetery rather than the monetary benefit listed above.  However, in addition to the free marker and installation in a National Cemetery, the Veteran’s Administration also provides:
• Free burial space in a National Cemetery
• Free outer burial container in the National Cemetery (Grave liner, not a vault)
• Free opening and closing of the grave in the National Cemetery or Niche for Cremation

To be eligible for Wartime Veterans Benefits, the Veteran must have served at least ONE DAY during dates of war.  A $2,000 benefit may be available for a Veteran who dies of a service-connected disability.  The Veterans Administration Office will determine eligibility.

• United States Flag
• Government marker for the Veteran; may include the spouse’s name, if requested.
• Military Honors (Taps and Flag Presentation) Upon eligibility, Gun Salute, Chaplain
• Presidential Certificate
• Burial allowance packet

The above information may change without notice to the Funeral Home.  Current benefits may be checked by linking to the following website.

www.vba.va.go/survivors/index.htm.

** Note- Most Cemeteries and/or monument companies have an installation fee for placing the government marker and where applicable, the support base.  This fee may range from $75-$700 or more.  When burial is in a National Cemetery, there is no charge for the installation of this marker.

Many states have established State Veteran's Cemeteries.  Eligibility is similar to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemeteries, but may include residency requirements.  Even though they may have been established or improved with Government funds through VA's Veteran's Cemetery Grants Program, State Veterans Cemeteries are run solely by the states.

The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.

Office Hours  

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

Visitor InformationBurials:

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday-FridayVisitation: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Everyday

‍Funeral Procedures for Central Texas Veterans Cemetery:

Our Funeral Home will schedule and handle all necessary paperwork when families select Fort Hood National Cemetery for burial.  Burials are scheduled every 15 minutes and once we provide proof of eligibility to the Cemetery, we are then assigned an arrival time.  Upon arrival at the cemetery, one of our Funeral Directors will have the procession pull up to the assigned waiting area.  It is critical that all funeral processions arrive on time, otherwise the procession may lose our appointment time and will have to wait until the next available time for Committal Services.  

The Funeral Director and family will wait in procession for an escort from the staff of the Cemetery which will lead us to the Committal Shelter.  We are limited to 15-20 minutes at the newly constructed committal shelter (see photo below).  Military Honors and Flag Presentation for Veteran's will be provided by the Military Honor Guard.  They will then escort the next of kin into the administration building to sign the necessary paperwork.  Families will be presented with inscription options and will be notified of the grave location and cemetery procedures.

‍Burial Space

This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.

‍Donation of American Flags

Central Texas Veterans Cemetery and most National Cemeteries display an Avenue of Flags on patriotic holidays and during special events. The Avenues consist of burial flags donated by the families of deceased Veteran's and provide a unique visible tribute to all of our Nations Veterans.

A Certificate of Appreciation is presented to the donor for providing their loved ones’ burial flag to a national cemetery.

‍Burial Benefits

Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any national cemetery with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family.  Some Veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances.  Cremated remains are buried or inurned in National Cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.

Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a National Cemetery include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran's headstone, at no cost to the family.  Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran.

Gravesites in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemeteries cannot be reserved in advance However, you may certainly pre-register to alert your wishes with the cemetery that you have intentions on being buried at Fort Hood National Cemetery.  You should advise your family of your wishes and where your discharge papers are kept.  These papers are very important in establishing your eligibility.

For Burial in a Private Cemetery

‍Burial benefits available for Veterans buried in a private cemetery may include a Government headstone, marker or medallion, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family.  Some Veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances.  There are not any VA benefits available to spouses and dependents buried in a private cemetery.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration maintains 136 national cemeteries in 40 states (and Puerto Rico) as well as 33 soldier's lots and monument sites.

Fort. Sam Houston San Antonio, Texas

Located at: 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd.

San Antonio, TX 78209

‍

Phone: 210-820-3891

Fax: 210-820-3445

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Visitation Hours:

Open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Same Procedures as Fort Hood National Cemetery.

‍http://www.cem.va.gov

Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a phone call to 1-800-535-1117.

History of Fort Sam Houston:

‍Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is located in San Antonio, Texas, adjoining the Fort Sam Houston Military Post. As early as 1846, the residents of San Antonio attempted to establish a permanent military facility in their town. During the Mexican War, the U.S. Army established a quartermaster depot at San Antonio and a training camp at San Pedro Spring. In 1849, San Antonio was named the headquarters of the U.S. Army, Eighth Military District and the Alamo was leased from the Catholic Church to use as a storage facility.

A formal request for an Army post was made in 1870, but Secretary of War W. W. Belknap opposed it. As a result, funding was delayed until 1875 and construction of the fort on 93 acres donated by the city did not begin until June 1876. In 1885 and 1891, 43 acres and 60 buildings were added, respectively, to what would become the post. In 1890 the military post at San Antonio was re-designated Fort Sam Houston by President Benjamin Harrison. Prominent visitors to the post included Chief Geronimo, who was held there in 1886 before his exile to Florida and Theodore Roosevelt, who stopped with his men at the base to receive provisions before leaving for Cuba in 1898.

By 1917 the installation had been raised to general depot status and was supplying the Mexican frontier, including troops engaged in General John J. Pershing's pursuit of Francisco “Pancho” Villa. In 1940, it was the largest army post in the United States and it served as a major internment center for prisoners of war during World War II. By 1949, Fort Sam Houston had 1,500 buildings on more than 3,300 acres and was the headquarters for the Fourth U.S. Army.

Although the post was established in 1875, the land upon which Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is located did not become a burial ground until approximately half a century later. Interments of men from the post were made in a portion of the city cemetery until 1867, when the United States acquired the tract by donation from the city government and designated it San Antonio National Cemetery. Even at that early date, the city completely surrounded the new national cemetery and the possibility for expansion was extremely limited. As the years passed, the number of military personnel grew with a corresponding increase in the number of post deaths. This created a need for more burial facilities.

In recognition of this need, in 1924 a portion of the military reservation was set aside to be used as a post cemetery. The first interment was made two years later in 1926. On Aug. 6, 1931, the War Department announced the transfer of 60 acres, including the post cemetery, from the military reservation and designated the tract an addition to San Antonio National Cemetery. It retained this status until 1937 when the War Department formally renamed it Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Remains from one-time frontier posts in Texas such as Fort Ringgold, Fort Clark, and Fort McIntosh were reinterred in Fort Sam Houston when those facilities closed in 1947.

Arlington National Cemetery

For information on burial requirements for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, please call 1-877-907-8585 or on the web at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/

We are partnered with Old Time Funeral Home in Arlington, VA. 

Receiving and graveside in VA, $1000