VETERANS SERVICES
Birdsong Cremations offers a $100 discount on all cremation services for Veterans. We deeply appreciate the sacrifices made by our service members and their families. It is our honor to serve those who have served our country, providing compassionate and respectful care during this challenging time. Thank you for your dedication and service; we are privileged to support you and your family.
We hold our Veterans in the highest regard, and honoring their service is of utmost importance to us. When Birdsong Cremations is entrusted with the care of a Veteran, our transport team ensures that their dedication is acknowledged from the very beginning. During the transport process, we honor their service by draping the United States flag over their body as a mark of respect and gratitude.
Following the cremation, the family will also receive a Certificate of Honor, commemorating their loved one’s service and dedication to our country. This certificate serves as a lasting memento of the respect and recognition shown during the veteran’s final journey.
ELIGIBILITY
Military funeral honors are free of charge and mandated by law for eligible veterans. Eligibility will be verified by the veteran’s DD-214, or discharge papers. Eligible members include:
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under honorable conditions.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under honorable conditions.
- Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
"They were great through the whole process. Kept in contact and helped with the difficulties of being in a foreign country. An all over kind caring service." - Lain
VETERAN BENEFITS
In addition to coordinating honors related to the service itself, we can help you communicate with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to arrange for:
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate: This is a certificate expressing the nation's recognition of the veteran's service. The veteran's name is inscribed, and the certificate bears the signature of the President.
- Headstones or markers: The VA provides headstones and markers for the graves of veterans anywhere in the world and for eligible dependents of veterans buried in national, state, or military cemeteries.
- Memorial plots: If an eligible veterans remains are not available for burial, the VA will provide a plot and headstone or marker in a national cemetery for memorialization. If you wish to place the memorial in a cemetery other than a national cemetery, the VA will provide the headstone or marker but not the plot itself.
- Burial in a VA national cemetery: This includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a grave box, and perpetual care.
- Reimbursement of burial expenses: For information on eligibility and the different levels of potential reimbursement, please review their Guide to VA Burial Allowances.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Please visit the following links for detailed information about the options available for honoring service members and other aspects of military funerals:
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Click on Veteran Services and look underneath the Burials & Memorials heading.
- Veterans' Funeral and Burial Benefits. Helpful information from the Funeral Consumers Alliance.
- Honoring Those Who Served. An explanation of the various types of honors available for military funerals.
HOUSTON Cremations
Houston Cremations, a division of Birdsong Cremations, is where our journey began and is home to our corporate office. We provide compassionate and professional cremation services to families in the Houston area, ensuring a seamless and respectful process with support and guidance every step of the way.
Dallas Cremations
Dallas Cremations, a division of Birdsong Cremations, offers compassionate and professional cremation services to families in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Our dedicated team ensures a respectful and seamless process, providing support and guidance at every stage.
TYLER Cremations
Tyler Cremations, a division of Birdsong Cremations, is committed to serving families in the Tyler / Lindale area with compassion and care. We strive to make the cremation process as straightforward and comforting as possible, providing personalized support throughout this difficult time.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” - 1 Peter 5:10