Death & Burial Benefits

Death & Burial

Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of the 142 national cemeteries, or three state cemeteries 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. Spouses are also eligible for burial in state cemeteries, however, there is a cost for burying the spouse in a state veteran cemetery.

The Veterans family should make funeral or cremation arrangements with a funeral provider or cremation office. Any item or service obtained from a funeral home or cremation office will be at the family's expense. The VA created the Planning Your Legacy: VA Survivors and Burial Benefits Kit, to assist Veterans and their family members in pre-need planning and record storage.

Veteran Cemetery Information

Pre-registration for burial in Wisconsin State Cemeteries may be obtained by applying to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs either through the MyWisVets website or using a paper form and mailing it to WDVA.

Portage County Cemetery Information

The link below is to a county cemetery dashboard. The map allows you to click on a cemetery name in the left margin and the website will zoom in on the cemetery on the map.