NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF MILITARY & NAVAL AFFAIRS

MILITARY FORCES HONOR GUARD

	Provide New York State military veterans’ with appropriate military internment honors
	Perform Honor Guard, state funeral, and other state ceremonial functions
	Assist and instruct veteran service organizations in performing appropriate burial ceremonies

	4 Man Honor Guard
	OIC/NCOIC - Flag presenter
	3 man flag folding detail Play taps (recorded) Fold flag Present flag to next-of-kin

	Service member who served in the active military, naval, or air service and were discharged under honorable conditions (DD Form 214 or equivalent required)
	Current members of the New York National Guard who pass away (Unit verification/Regional Coordinator)
	Former New York National Guard members who are currently receiving a military retirement pension or are eligible for retired pay at age sixty (60) (NGB Form 22/Regional Coordinator)

	Northern Region -- 75 mile radius from Albany
	Southern Region -- 75 mile radius from Valhalla
	Western Region -- 75 mile radius from Buffalo

Funeral Directors must make the necessary arrangements
 for Military Forces Honor Guard services.

	HEADSTONES & MARKERS: (VA Form 40-1330) Headstones or markers are provided for the unmarked graves of veterans in private and Government cemeteries around the world For eligible dependents of veterans buried in national, post or state veterans cemeteries
	BURIAL FLAGS: (VA Form 21-2008) The VA provides a United States flag to drape over a veteran’s casket After the funeral service, the flag may be given to the next of kin or close associate of the deceased The next of kin may keep or donate the flag to a national cemetery for the Avenue of Flags program Flags are issued at VA regional offices, post offices and national cemeteries

 

REIMBURSEMENT OF BURIAL EXPENSES: (VA Form 21-530) VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2000 if the veteran’s death is service connected.  In some instances, VA will also pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery.  In such cases, the person who bore the veteran’s burial expenses may claim reimbursement from VA VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay. Eligibility may also be established when death occurs in a VA facility, a nursing home under VA contract or a state nursing home. Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be paid. There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims of service connected deaths. In non-service connected deaths, claims must be filed within two (2) years after permanent burial or cremation. VA will pay a $300 plot allowance when a veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under US government jurisdiction under the following circumstances: The veteran was discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty The veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would have been in receipt of compensation but for receipt of military retired pay Or the veteran died while hospitalized by VA