Veterans Services

Veterans Services

Many of us take our freedoms for granted, but our staff at Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory proudly acknowledges the sacrifices made by those who have served our country through their patriotism, love of country and willingness to protect others.

Our staff is committed to providing quality service and professional assistance to help families complete the necessary forms to obtain benefits that are provided through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for deceased veterans.

There are actually five items to consider when talking about veteran’s funeral benefits, all of which require the funeral home to be provided with a copy of the veteran's discharge documentation – also known as a DD-214 – which shows that the veteran has been honorably discharged from service.

Every honorably discharged veteran is entitled to the following:

• Burial in a VA national cemetery - It is important to note that the funeral home's charges are not borne by the government. However, the burial plot or cremation niche, applicable basic outer burial container (for earth burial) and a standard VA headstone/marker are a benefit available at no cost to your family at the national cemetery.

• Burial Flag - A flag is provided by the United States government for every honorably discharged veteran. We will procure this flag on your family's behalf as part of our services and Johnston & Williams provides a complimentary cherry flag case to the family of every veteran we are called upon to serve. We do this as our gift of appreciation for your loved one's honorable service to our country.

• Headstone/Grave Marker - Upon request by the family, a standard VA issued headstone/grave marker is provided at no cost by the United States government. It is important to note, however, that the cost of placing the headstone or marker in a private cemetery is at your family’s own expense. We will help coordinate those specific details on your family’s behalf.

• A military honors ceremony. This ceremony is offered by the branch of service under which the veteran served and is coordinated by the funeral home at your request. We are also proud to partner with the Kittitas County Veteran's Association and the Cle Elum VFW Post (as applicable based on service location - upper or lower county) to offer a short military service and gun salute as part of the honors ceremony.

Some veterans are entitled to monetary assistance for funeral expenses, with the primary qualifiers including having a service related disability, whether or not a military pension or disability assistance was being drawn, and whether or not the death occurred in a VA Hospital or care facility under VA Contract.

We consider our obligation to care for veterans and their families of utmost importance and stand ready and willing to assist your family to obtain all funeral and death related benefits to which you or your veteran are entitled. 

Who qualifies for burial benefits and burial in a national cemetery?

Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, as well as other benefits, if they meet one of the requirements listed below:

What are military funeral honors and a committal service?

Military funeral honors include the playing of “Taps,” a rifle detail, a color guard and uniformed service members who properly fold and present the United States flag to the grieving family. These flags are typically given to the deceased’s next of kin or close friend. In order for the survivors to qualify to receive the burial flag, the veteran or reservist must be described by at least one of the following:

More Information on Flags & Headstones

Headstones

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. For eligible veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already marked with a private headstone or marker. When the grave is already marked, applicants will have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or marker, or a cast bronze medallion.

Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. Some cemeteries require that the marker must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. For example, if there are no upright headstones allowed in the section that the headstone is to be placed, the family would need to select a flat or flush marker to mark the grave. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

Our assistance is available in applying for, and arranging the placement of, a VA issued marker in a private cemetery. Allowing us to coordinate these details on your behalf saves time and frustration in making sure that the work is completed properly and within the cemetery guidelines.

Note, while there is no charge for the headstone or marker itself, all setting/installation fees are at private expense. When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative. Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a national cemetery, state veteran's cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.

Burial Flags

A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U. S. Armed Forces. It is furnished to honor the memory of a veteran's military service to his or her country.

Who Is Eligible to Receive the Burial Flag? - Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use during the funeral service. When there is no next-of-kin, VA will furnish the flag to a friend making request for it. For those VA national cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags, families of veterans buried in these national cemeteries may donate the burial flags of their loved ones to be flown on patriotic holidays.

How Do I Get a Flag? - Johnston & Williams brings a pressed United States flag with us when we initially transfer Veterans into our care. This flag is draped over your loved one's body on our cot during transport and then labeled with their name upon our return to the funeral home. This flag will then be hand pressed again for placement on the casket or, if cremation is selected, it is our protocol that just before the cremation is started, that same flag that accompanied them from the place of death is draped over their cremation container, a recording of Taps is played and then the flag is folded to prepare it for return to your family. A flag that is ready to be retired is then draped over the cremation container to be cremated with your loved one.

If Johnston & Williams did not initially care for your loved ones arrangements and you are still wishing to obtain a flag for a Veteran who has already passed away, you may elect to apply for the flag on your own by completing VA Form 27-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes. You may get a flag at any VA regional office or U.S. Post Office.

How Should the Burial Flag Be Displayed? - The proper way to display the flag depends upon whether the casket is open or closed or displayed next to an urn. Our staff of professional, licensed funeral directors are trained in the proper way to display the flag for funeral and memorial services and will oversee these details on your behalf. The burial flag is not suitable for outside display because of its size and fabric. It is made of cotton and can easily be damaged by weather.

Johnston & Williams provides the family of every Veteran with a complimentary cherry flag case as our gift of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service.