Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral and Cremation Services will assist families in applying for veterans’ benefits. These benefits are provided at no cost to family members to recognize the sacrifice and contributions of our Nation’s veterans. Some benefits that are commonly provided are:

• U.S. Burial Flag

• Standard Grave Marker

• Monetary Burial Benefit

• Burial in the State or National Veterans Cemetery

• Military Funeral Honors

All veterans are eligible to apply for a U.S. burial flag, a standard marker and a monetary burial benefit. In general, any deceased veteran who was discharged under conditions other than ‘dishonorable’ is eligible for a burial flag and standard grave marker. To receive any monetary benefits, the deceased veteran must have been currently receiving disability compensation, been discharged due to line-of-duty disabilities or been under medical care in a veteran approved facility. A spouse or dependent may be eligible for monthly survivors benefits in special cases.

Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral and Cremation Services will assist in arranging for burial in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Maine or in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. To qualify for burial at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, the deceased veteran must have been a resident of the State of Maine at the time of his/her death or was a Maine resident at the time of entry into the military service.

Veterans may also be eligible for military honors. The core elements for the military honors ceremony is flag folding, flag presentation and taps. A color guard and firing squad are not always available, but the military will make every effort to provide honors.

For more information and further details on veterans’ benefits visit:

•  www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil  or

• www.state.me.us/va/defense/hmpgmvs.htm