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Frequently Asked Questions
My Dad was a Veteran ... What benefits is he entitled to for his funeral?
Military honors are available to all men and women veterans regardless of rank or location of burial or cremation. The funeral service can include an active duty honor guard or one provided by a local volunteer veterans group. Arrangements can be made for a Chaplain to speak, flag folding and presentation, rifle salute and the playing of TAPS. Gately Funeral Home makes all the arrangements for these ceremonial activities. We also obtain a burial flag and bronze grave marker for our veterans.
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 US Armed Forces. It honors the memory of a veteran's military service to his or her country.
Your Dad may be entitled to veterans' burial allowances, which are partial reimbursements of an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs. The amount of the payment depends on whether the death was service-related. Your funeral director can help you determine eligibility and will assist in completing the appropriate government forms.
Dependents of a veteran who died during wartime may be eligible for a death pension. Again, there are specific eligibility rules that your funeral director can help guide you through. Resources are also available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. In Melrose, contact the Veterans Services Officer at 781-979-4186 or visit the Department of Veterans Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Website at http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=veteranshomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eveterans.
Gately Funeral Home has had a long history of commitment to veterans who come to us for their final tribute. It is our privilege to serve them and to add a mark of distinction to their funeral service. Some very special veterans have come to us in the past: A POW who spent 20 months in Stalag 17 after flying B-17 bombers ... another who served for three years in a "flying fortress" in the nose of a gun turret ... and a Vietnam veteran whose service included full military honors with a 21-gun salute. We do all that we can for the families to ensure that their veteran receives the honors and benefits he or she deserves.
Our staff is fully trained to handle every detail of a veteran's funeral service. This includes answering questions about military protocol, assuring that legal requirements are met, and providing whatever equipment, facilities, and technical services that may be needed. We apply for all VA benefits, file for Veterans Life Insurance, and arrange all military honors.
We are proud to pay tribute to those who served, and upon the family's request, we will ensure that the veteran receives dignified military funeral honors.
Never Too Late
It is never too late to apply for a United States burial flag and/or grave marker for veterans. At Gately Funeral Home we are pleased to do that for families whose veterans did not have them at the time of their funeral - regardless of which funeral home provided the service. Drop by Gately Funeral Home with the veteran's discharge papers (DD214) or call us at 781-665-1949 and we'll be happy to provide that service with no fee or obligation.
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