All men & women who serve in the United States Armed Forces and are discharged for reasons other than dishonorable, are entitled to certain benefits at death:
- Burial in a National Cemetery at no cost to the family
- Includes grave site
- Includes Opening & Closing
- Perpetual Care
- Government Headstone or Marker
- Burial Flag
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
In addition some benefits are available for the veteran's spouse or dependent children:
- Burial with the veteran
- Name and Dates inscribed on veteran's headstone
- Perpetual Care
Some veterans may be entitled to a Burial Allowance which is a partial reimbursement of certain final expenses. Since this does not apply to all veterans, we encourage you to contact your local county Veterans Service office (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco) or the VA directly to determine eligibility for Burial Allowance.
Local National Cemeteries
Our area is served by three national cemeteries:
Bay Pines National Cemetery - St Petersburg
Bay Pines is beautifully situated at the southern end of Pinellas County on Boca Ciega Bay. It is adjacent to Bay Pines VA Hospital and the Dept of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St Petersburg.
In most cases, Bay Pines currently accepts only burial of cremated remains. For more information, please visit Bay Pines National Cemetery's Website.
Florida National Cemetery - Bushnell
Florida National is located near Bushnell, Florida approximately 50 miles north of Tampa. One of the newer national cemeteries, Florida National provides both casket and cremation burial and offers the option of ground burial or above ground placement of cremated remains in beautiful columbarium structures
For more information, please visit Florida National Cemetery's website.
Sarasota National Cemetery - Sarasota
The new 295-acre national cemetery in the Sarasota area will serve veterans’ needs for the next 50 years. The cemetery is located in Sarasota County along State Road 72 and approximately four miles east of Interstate 75.
For more information, please visit Sarasota National Cemetery's website.
Links for More Information
Information on Burial & Survivors Benefits for Veterans.
Local National Cemetery (St. Petersburg area) which permits burial of cremated remains for eligible veterans.
Local National Cemetery (Bushnell area) which permits burial for eligible veterans.
Local national cemetery (Bradenton/Sarasota area) which permits burial for eligible veterans.
Details and application form for the Navy's Burial at Sea program for eligible veterans and dependents.
County Veteran Service Offices
Assistance with VA Benefit applications for Hillsborough County residents.
Assistance with VA Benefit applications for Pinellas County Residents.
Download Forms for Veterans
Application for Burial Allowance (Form 21-530)
Application for Veterans Marker (Form 40-1330)
