Question from Caring.com Community Member, jnetta04
My father served in the Air Force during combat. Who do we contact to see if he qualifies for a veteran's funeral?
Expert Answer by Barbara Kate Repa
Barbara Repa, a Caring.com senior editor, is an attorney, a journalist specializing in aging issues, and the author of WillMaker, software enabling consumers to write their own wills, health care directives, powers of attorney, and final arrangements.
As a starting point, contact the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Its website provides a fairly comprehensive Q and A section on burial benefits -- along with contact information should you need additional guidance.
A word to the wise: Not surprisingly, the representatives at the VA are known to be particular sticklers for adhering to regulations. They will require that you produce some documentation of your father's active military service, such as a Certificate of Service or Verification of Service Letter. If you can have such paperwork in hand before contacting the VA bureaucrats, it will greatly help in navigating through the system.
