Veterans

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I thought my veteran could be buried with honors, what happened?

    This is an issue many veterans have faced at our funeral homes and others across the country. Of course your veteran can be buried with honors, but for that to happen, you must have your veteran’s DD214. This form is key in requesting military honors.

  • How do I get a DD214 in time for the service?

    Unfortunately, if you recognize you don’t have the form at your veteran’s time of death, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to obtain a DD214 prior to your veteran’s burial.  Still, put in your request as soon as the death occurs because there may be other matters you will have to tend that may require you have your veteran’s DD214. You can request the DD214 at https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/.

  • How do I get my veteran buried at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery?

    All you have to do is let us know that you wish to bury your veteran at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. From there, we will need your veteran’s DD214 and then we will complete and turn in the request on your behalf. Once submitted, the Cemetery is responsible for determining eligibility.

  • Can my veteran get a free marker on their grave?

    Absolutely they can. Your veteran may be eligible for a totally free government marker at any cemetery you lay them to rest. You just need to request it by visiting https://www.cem.va.gov/hmm/ where you can also find your veteran’s eligibility for this service.

  • What is a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and can I get that for my veteran?

    The Presidential Memorial Certificate is an engraved certificate signed by the current president of the United States. Two requirements must be met for your veteran to be eligible for the certificate: 1) your veteran meets eligibility requirements to be buried in the National Cemetery 2) You are the next of kin, family member or close friend of the veteran or reservist. If one or both of these are not met, then your veteran is not eligible for the Presidential Memorial Certificate. As part of our service to our veteran families, we can request the Presidential Memorial Certificate on your behalf – as long as you have your veteran’s DD214. Or, if you prefer, you can apply in person, by mail or fax. Special instructions on how to apply are at https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/presidential-memorial-certificates/.

  • What kind of benefits do I get as the spouse or child of a veteran?

    As the spouse, dependent, or parent(s) of a veteran, you may be eligible for VA DIC:  VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. If your veteran died in the line of duty, or if they died from service-related injuries, you may be eligible for this benefit. You can learn more about the difference in benefits between surviving spouses and children and surviving parents, and how to apply at https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/.

  • I'm a veteran, but I would like to pre-plan my arrangements. How can I do that?

    That’s incredibly brave and forward thinking of you. First, make sure you have your DD214 so that you can have military honors. If you can’t locate your DD214, request it at https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/ as soon as you can. The earlier, the better. Next, we encourage you to schedule an appointment to meet with one of our pre-need specialists. Both Denise and Wendy are well-equipped to provide you the information and resources you need to fully plan and even pre-pay for your funeral. Submit your Funeral Planning Information form using this link https://www.dejohnfuneral.com/funeral-planning-information/ and one of our pre-need specialists will follow up with you to get started.

Helpful Resources

GI Bill Apprenticeship Program

For funeral professionals who want to help veterans find a long-term career in deathcare, there’s a worthwhile opportunity to explore called the GI Bill apprenticeship program. For military veterans or those currently in the guard or reserve, this program provides a great hands-on education and training benefit to gain important skills that are necessary to succeed in the workplace.

A funeral service career can be closely aligned to the many skills that veterans have gained during their military service. Their commitment to getting the job done, organizational skills, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, and overall strength and rigor are admired by funeral businesses. In addition to applying those valuable skills they learned during their service, furthering their education and acquiring new talents makes veterans top-notch, coveted workers.

Merendino Cemetery Care in Linden, NJ has been utilizing the apprenticeship program for over 10 years with great success. They incorporated their Cemetery Manager position into the program which enabled their veteran hires to gain valuable work experience, learn about the funeral profession and earn extra money while training for a new career. The program is an excellent way for employers and veterans to partner together and create a long lasting mutually beneficial working relationship. It is also an excellent alternative for veterans looking for practical experience rather than attending college.

Qualified candidates may apply for the GI Bill while on active duty or after leaving the military. Employers must contact their local state certifying official to start the process, which includes creating a comprehensive training program that will teach the skills necessary for the veteran to become successful in their position. This may include classroom training in addition to hands-on experience. The program can help veterans transition into a civilian job by creating a mentoring environment. For Merendino Cemetery Care, the program changed their organizational culture to mission-focused, which was beneficial to the entire company.

Veterans can present the on-the-job training program to companies they are interested in working with or use the education benefit to join a funeral profession education program such as a mortuary college.

For funeral professionals who want to help veterans find a long-term career in deathcare, there’s a worthwhile opportunity to explore called the GI Bill apprenticeship program. For military veterans or those currently in the guard or reserve, this program provides a great hands-on education and training benefit to gain important skills that are necessary to succeed in the workplace.

A funeral service career can be closely aligned to the many skills that veterans have gained during their military service. Their commitment to getting the job done, organizational skills, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, and overall strength and rigor are admired by funeral businesses. In addition to applying those valuable skills they learned during their service, furthering their education and acquiring new talents makes veterans top-notch, coveted workers.

Merendino Cemetery Care in Linden, NJ has been utilizing the apprenticeship program for over 10 years with great success. They incorporated their Cemetery Manager position into the program which enabled their veteran hires to gain valuable work experience, learn about the funeral profession and earn extra money while training for a new career. The program is an excellent way for employers and veterans to partner together and create a long lasting mutually beneficial working relationship. It is also an excellent alternative for veterans looking for practical experience rather than attending college.

Qualified candidates may apply for the GI Bill while on active duty or after leaving the military. Employers must contact their local state certifying official to start the process, which includes creating a comprehensive training program that will teach the skills necessary for the veteran to become successful in their position. This may include classroom training in addition to hands-on experience. The program can help veterans transition into a civilian job by creating a mentoring environment. For Merendino Cemetery Care, the program changed their organizational culture to mission-focused, which was beneficial to the entire company.

Veterans can present the on-the-job training program to companies they are interested in working with or use the education benefit to join a funeral profession education program such as a mortuary college.

What benefits are available through the program?

Stipend for books and supplies: GI Bill recipients may receive up to $83 each month for books and supplies needed.


  1. Monthly housing allowance (MHA): A veteran apprentice can receive a tax-free monthly stipend while participating in a registered apprenticeship program. The MHA issued will be a percentage of the Department of Defense Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as follows:


- 100% of the MHA during the first 6 months of training

- 80% during the second 6 months of training

- 60% during the third 6 months of training

- 40% during the fourth 6 months of training

- 20% during the remainder of training


Note: Veterans who are already participating in a funeral service apprenticeship program at the time of application may be eligible to receive up to 12 months of retroactive books and supplies stipends and monthly housing allowances. At the end of training, they will be certified in the funeral service profession.

How much to recipients get paid?

Montgomery GI Bill: Active Duty

With the Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill program, qualified recipients can receive $1,591.50 per month for the first six months of training; $1,167.10 for the second six months of training; and $742.70 for the remainder of training books and supplies stipends and monthly housing allowances. At the end of training, they will be certified in the funeral service profession.

Montgomery GI Bill: Selected Reserve

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays GI Bill Selected Reserve participants on the following rates: $297.75 per month for the first six months of training; $218.35 for the second six months of training; and $138.95 for the remainder of training.

What types of jobs qualify one to receive this benefit?

To qualify for the GI Bill apprenticeship bill, a funeral service job must meet the following criteria:


  1. Must be supervised at least 50 percent of the time while on the job.
  2. Job training must lead to an entry-level position.
  3. Must be a full-time paid employee.
  4. All training must be documented and reported.
  5. Must have no previous experience in that field.
  6. Must be recently hired – within one or two years.
  7. The job must require at least six months training to be considered fully trained.


If you have questions about the GI Bill apprenticeship program or need help getting started, please visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website: gibill.custhelp.va.gov, call the Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. CST), or contact Merendino Cemetery Care via their Facebook page.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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