Veterans Benefits | Horan & McConaty | Aurora CO funeral home and cremation

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Veteran Services

With a long tradition of honoring our veterans, Horan & McConaty feels privileged to assist families with the tasks of obtaining all financial benefits-veterans’ benefits, Social Security benefits and life insurance benefits. We further make certain your veteran receives all funeral and memorial honors that he or she deserves.

Financial Benefits

Notably, veterans benefits are not paid automatically. You must contact the Veterans Administration. Our staff is ready to assist you in filing the claim on your behalf.

Since veterans’ benefits are not paid automatically, you must contact the Veterans Administration. Our staff is ready to assist you in filing the claim on your behalf.

To help you sort out some of the details, we’ve selected some important highlights from the VA website regarding VA burial allowances, eligibility, the application, and payment amounts.

A Burial Allowances

VA burial allowances are partial reimbursements of an eligible veterans burial and funeral costs. When the cause of death is not service related, the reimbursements are generally described as two payments: 1) a burial and funeral expense allowance, and 2) a plot or interment allowance

Who Is Eligible

To be eligible, the veteran must be discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, having completed the required period of service. U.S. Armed Forces members who die on active duty are also eligible, as well as spouses and dependent children of eligible living and deceased veterans, and of current and deceased armed forces members.

How to Apply

Horan & McConaty will assist you in applying to the Veterans Administration for all of the benefits on the veteran’s behalf. Generally, we require a copy of the veteran’s honorable discharge (DD-214). We provide a suitable copy of the Death Certificate for the application process.

Payment Amounts

For a Service-Related Death, the VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses. If the Veteran is buried in a VA National Cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.

For a Non-Service-Related Death, the VA will pay up to $700 toward burial and funeral expenses (if hospitalized by VA at time of death), or $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (if not hospitalized by VA at time of death), and a $700.00 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a National Cemetery). If the death happened while the Veteran was in a VA hospital or under VA-contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for transporting the veteran’s remains may be reimbursed.

Funeral & Memorial Honors for Veterans

Depending on eligibility, funeral benefits to honor veterans may include the following:

Memorial U.S. flag
Presidential Memorial Certificate
Veterans Administration headstone or marker
Burial at Ft. Logan National Cemetery
Military flag folder and presenter
Full military honors for those who retired from the military, were disabled as a result of military service or died while serving on active duty
Tolling of the Honor Bell at Ft. Logan National Cemetery

As specialists in explaining and obtaining federal burial benefits, we are here to ensure that you receive the valuable veteran’s benefits that your deserving loved one earned.

Fort Logan National Cemetery
3698 S. Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80236
303.761.0117

Our committed professionals at Horan & McConaty work closely with Fort Logan National Cemetery to arrange burial services for veterans. The honor comes with considerable benefits to those choosing burial or cremation. Burial costs at other area cemeteries could total over $6,000, but Ft. Logan charges nothing for veterans and their spouses.

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Average Comparative Cost of Items in Denver Provided to Veterans at No Charge

Veteran’s Space — $3,000

Spouse’s Space — $3,000

Concrete Grave Liner (Veteran & Spouse) — $1,320

Opening and Closing (Veteran & Spouse) — $2,790

Grave Markers (Veteran & Spouse) — $1,495

TOTAL VALUE — $11,605

Fort Logan Columbarium Niches

For veterans choosing cremation, Fort Logan’s stately columbarium niches are provided at no charge. Designed to hold two urns, which can accommodate a veteran and eligible spouse, niche dimensions are 14″ in height, 10″ in width, and 18″ in length.

The Honor Bell

One thousand pounds and forged in bronze, our Honor Bell was created by veterans and funded by donations. During the casting, artifacts from those who have served were added to the molten bronze, representing past, present, and future veterans. Guarded and tolled by the Bell Honor Guard, the bell may be rung for any veteran’s service at the cemetery, church or chapel, and then silenced until the next Honors. Its resonant tolling provides a solemn moment that mourners long remember as a final tribute.

Learn more about The Honor Bell »

Serving Friends & Families in the Denver Metro Area