Eligibility

      • Honorably discharged Veterans and members of the U.S. armed forces.
      • Certain members of reserve components and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
      • Certain members of the National Guard.
      • Commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Public Health Service.
      • Qualifying World War II Merchant Marines.
      • Certain members of the Philippines Armed Forces.
      • Spouses and dependents (dependent children's burial is limited to unmarried children under 21 or 23 if full-time students at approved educational institution.)

Eligibility requirements for a Texas State Veterans Cemetery are the same as for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery. For detailed eligibility requirements, please visit the VA Website or call the VA toll-free burial benefits number at 1-800-827-1000. If you have any questions about eligibility, please call us at the Texas Veterans Land Board at 800-252-8387.

Although you can't reserve a burial space, you can pre-register. Complete an interment registration form, attaching a copy of the military discharge form (DD-214) (and a copy of a marriage certificate, if applicable). Send these documents to the Texas State Veterans Cemetery of your choice. The cemetery will verify your eligibility, inform you accordingly, and maintain a copy of these documents so that the next of kin doesn't have to find them at the time of need.

Burial & Interment Options

  • During burial arrangements, the family will work with the funeral home and cemetery staff to determine the type of interment the family wishes.
  • The interment options are below. Please contact the cemetery staff or the Texas VLB if you have questions. Whatever interment option the family chooses, the family may request that a final committal service at the cemetery prior to interment. Military honors are presented during this committal service. These respectful committal services are held in covered committal shelters, with the burial following at the grave site.
    • Interment Options
      • A casketed burial. An upright marble or granite headstone is provided.
      • Interment of cremated remains and placement in a columbarium. Cremation urns may be no larger than 13 inches tall, by 10 inches wide, by 9 inches deep. A marble or granite niche cover is provided.
      • Interment of cremated remains and placement in an in-ground burial section. A marble or granite marker is provided.
      • Scattering of cremated remains in the scattering garden. A marble or granite marker is provided in the memorial section.
    • Charges for Interment
      • Texas State Veterans Cemetery burials are a benefit earned by Veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependents for their dedicated service to our country. There is no charge for interment of Veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents. The burial benefit includes military honors for Veterans, grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, a concrete grave liner for casketed burials, a headstone or marker, burial flag presentation to the next of kin, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, playing of Taps, a gun salute and perpetual care of the grave. The funeral home will obtain a burial flag to accompany the Veteran's casket or urn and will assist with requesting military honors.
      • The burial benefit for Veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents does not cover funeral home charges such as the cost of a casket, cremation, viewing, flower cars, or transportation of the remains and family. However, if the Veteran dies of a service-connected cause of death, the family may be eligible for reimbursement from the VA for some of the funeral home costs up to $2,000.

Information regarding burials at sea can be obtained by contacting the U.S. Navy. Additional information can be found on the VA Website.

Gravesite Locator & Service Schedule

Each Texas State Veterans Cemetery has a grave-locator kiosk on site to locate Veterans interred at each location. For a more detailed search of Veterans buried at any national cemetery, state cemetery, or Veteran with a government-issued headstone installed at a private cemetery, please visit the VA Website.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration

Please visit the VA Website for information regarding the National Cemetery Administration.

Obtaining Service Documents: National Personnel Records Center

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is the central repository of millions of military personnel, health and medical records of discharged and deceased Veterans of all branches of service during the 20th century. (Records prior to World War I are in Washington, DC). NPRC also stores all military retirees' medical treatment, as well as records for dependents and other persons treated at naval medical facilities. Records information is available upon written request (with signature and date) to the extent allowed by law. To obtain service documents or other relevant military records, visit the NPRC Website.