Missouri Veterans Cemetery
Questions and Answers

1. What are the eligibility requirements for burial in a Missouri Veterans Cemetery?
You must have been discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable and have completed the required period of service.

2. Can my spouse or children also be buried in a Missouri Veterans Cemetery?
Yes. Qualified spouses and/or unmarried dependent children under the age of 21 or adult children who are mentally or physically incapable of self-support may be eligible for burial in a Missouri Veterans Cemetery.

3. Is there any cost for burial in a Missouri Veterans Cemetery?
There is no cost for the burial services provided by a Missouri Veterans Cemetery.

4. What does the Missouri Veterans Cemetery provide?
Grave space, grave opening and closing, concrete grave liner, upright granite headstone, and perpetual care are provided at no cost.

5. Can I choose the location of my burial plot?
No. Graves are assigned upon receipt of a request for burial.

6. Can I purchase my own headstone?
No. In order to maintain uniformity, upright granite markers are provided by the cemetery.

7. Is my spouse entitled to a separate burial plot?
Only if your spouse is also an eligible Veteran. Otherwise the Veteran and spouse are interred in the same burial plot or columbarium niche.

8. Can I reserve a burial plot?
No. Graves are assigned as needed. The only time a grave is reserved is in the case of two veterans married to each other.

9. Will Military Honors be provided?
Yes, if desired. Requests for honors are normally made by the funeral director who will forward the request to a representative of the Missouri Military Funeral Honors Program.

10. Is there a chapel available for interment services?
No. Missouri State Veterans Cemeteries do not have a chapel. All interment services are held in the committal shelter, a stone building, which provides limited seating and protection from inclement weather.

11. How can I locate a particular veteran's gravesite?
A gravesite locator is available on the outside of the Administration Building to find the exact location of any Veteran buried in that cemetery.

12. Will a Chaplain be available?
No. It is the responsibility of the family to arrange for a member of the clergy to be in attendance at the interment service.

13. Is viewing of the deceased permitted?
No. Viewing must be done prior to arrival at the cemetery.

14. Is pre-planning available?
Yes. If you are considering interment in a State Veterans Cemetery, you are encouraged to consider pre-registering for future interment. This will allow quick scheduling at the time of need. It will also eliminate frantic searches for eligibility documents. If you are unable to locate these documents the Veterans Cemetery staff will assist you in obtaining them. A Pre-Certification form is available on-line and at any State Veterans Cemetery. Along with the form, you should attach a certified copy of your discharge, and dependency documentation, if necessary. Send the form and attached documents to the State Veterans Cemetery of your choice. Upon receipt by the cemetery, you will receive a letter confirming eligibility. The cemetery staff or Veterans Service Officers will be glad to assist you with completion of the form.

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