Veteran Benefits
Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors
Beyond a headstone and burial, the nation offers three lasting honors for a veteran: a Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by the President, military funeral honors with the folding and presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps, and a burial flag for the family to keep. These are free, they are earned, and a family that knows to ask will not miss them in the rush of grief.
Who this is for
When a veteran passes, the country still owes them a proper farewell: a flag folded and placed in a loved one's hands, the sound of Taps, and a certificate signed by the President. These honors are free and earned - but a grieving family has to know to ask for them.
In plain language
What Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors covers
- Presidential Memorial Certificate (VA Form 40-0247)
- Military funeral honors - flag folding and Taps
- The burial flag (VA Form 27-2008)
- How to arrange it all through a funeral director
Glad You Asked: VA Burial BenefitsOfficial video - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
5 things most veterans aren't aware of
These apply to nearly every VA claim - and they change how much you get and when.
Your filing date sets your back pay
Benefits are generally paid back to the day you file - not the day you are approved. Filing an intent to file today can protect months, even years, of retroactive pay.
One condition can trigger others (secondary claims)
A service-connected condition that causes another - like sleep apnea from PTSD, or a bad knee from a bad hip - can be rated on its own. Each secondary condition adds to your rating.
A medical nexus is what wins the claim
The VA needs a documented link between your condition and your service. A clear nexus opinion is often the difference between an approval and a denial.
Accredited help is free to file an initial claim
By law, an accredited agent cannot charge a fee to prepare and file your original claim. If someone asks for money up front to file, that is a red flag.
A denial is not the end of the road
You have three appeal lanes - Higher-Level Review, a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, and the Board of Veterans Appeals. Many denials are overturned on review.
Form 40-0247
Requests the Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by the President
2+ members
The funeral honors detail that folds and presents the flag
Form 27-2008
Requests the free U.S. burial flag for the family to keep
The full picture
Everything you need to know
Nothing hidden behind a click, and nothing you have to go looking for on another website. Here is the whole story in plain language - the facts and the figures first - so you can decide what fits your situation.
Key facts & current figures
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate signed by the current President honoring a deceased veteran's service - request it with VA Form 40-0247, with no limit on the number of copies.
- Military Funeral Honors are provided by the Department of Defense (not the VA): at least two uniformed service members, the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag, and the playing of Taps.
- Every eligible veteran is entitled to a burial flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn - request it with VA Form 27-2008 (most funeral homes handle this for you).
- Funeral honors are arranged through your funeral director, who contacts the branch of service; a copy of the DD-214 is the key document.
- These honors are free and are separate from - and can be combined with - VA burial allowances and national-cemetery burial.
General figures, current as of December 2025 and reviewed each year. Your exact amount depends on your situation - always confirm on va.gov.
The Presidential Memorial Certificate
- A PMC is an engraved paper certificate bearing the signature of the current President, expressing the nation's gratitude for the veteran's service.
- Any eligible veteran or reservist who qualifies for burial in a VA national cemetery is eligible; the requester can be next of kin, a relative, a close friend, or an authorized representative.
- There is no limit on the number of certificates - families often request copies for each child and grandchild.
Military funeral honors - the flag and Taps
- By law the Department of Defense provides a detail of at least two uniformed service members to fold and present the U.S. flag to the next of kin and to sound Taps (live or recorded).
- At least one member is from the veteran's own branch of service when possible; honors are provided for eligible veterans, not only those who die on active duty.
- Your funeral director arranges this - the earlier you ask, the easier it is to schedule the honor detail.
The burial flag
- The VA furnishes a U.S. burial flag at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn, then given to the next of kin as a keepsake.
- Request it with VA Form 27-2008; the form is available at VA offices, most funeral homes, and U.S. Post Offices.
- Only one burial flag is issued per veteran, so decide in advance which family member will keep it.
How to submit Form 40-0247
- Online: use the request tool or QuickSubmit on the AccessVA website.
- Mail the form with copies to the NCA Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547; fax to 800-455-7143; or hand it in at any VA regional office.
- Include copies of the veteran's DD-214 (discharge papers) and the death certificate to speed the decision - and send copies only.
Your complete benefit picture
Three earned honors
A certificate signed by the President, the folding and presentation of the flag with the playing of Taps, and a burial flag to keep - all free, all earned by service. A family only has to know to ask, and the funeral director can arrange most of it. Confirm details on va.gov.
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Ask before the service, not after
The flag-folding moment cannot be repeated once the service has passed
Military funeral honors are provided by the Department of Defense and arranged through your funeral director - tell them early which branch the veteran served and hand over a copy of the DD-214.
For veterans buried in a national cemetery the Presidential Memorial Certificate is usually automatic, but for a private cemetery or for extra copies you must file Form 40-0247.
Send copies only
Include copies of the DD-214 and death certificate with Form 40-0247 - the VA will not return original documents.
No limit on certificates
Families can request a certificate for each child and grandchild, so ask for as many as you need.
A clear path forward
Your step-by-step action plan
No rush and no pressure - but a little order helps. Applying is always free.
FIG. 01 - Gather your paperwork
First
Tell the funeral director
Give them the veteran's branch and a copy of the DD-214 and request military funeral honors - the flag folding and Taps.
FIG. 02 - Fill out the form
Flag
Request the burial flag
File VA Form 27-2008 (many funeral homes and post offices have it) to receive the U.S. flag for the casket or urn.
FIG. 03 - File the claim
Certificate
Submit Form 40-0247
Request the Presidential Memorial Certificate online through AccessVA, by mail, by fax, or in person - with copies of the DD-214 and death certificate.
FIG. 04 - After you file
Keep
Order extra copies
There is no limit, so request additional certificates for children and grandchildren to preserve the honor.
Who to call & where to go
These are free, official VA lines. Have your Social Security number handy when you call.
National Cemetery Scheduling Office
Schedule a burial in a VA national cemetery.
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702-992-4883Not sure where to start?
For military funeral honors, tell your funeral director the veteran's branch and give them a copy of the DD-214 - they contact the service to schedule the honor detail. Request the burial flag with VA Form 27-2008 (available at any VA office, most funeral homes, and USPS post offices). For the Presidential Memorial Certificate, submit VA Form 40-0247 - online through AccessVA, by mail to the NCA Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547, by fax to 800-455-7143, or in person at a VA regional office - and include copies of the DD-214 and death certificate.
More benefits for veterans
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- You register. This simply starts the conversation — you are not our client yet, and you owe us nothing.
- You sign and return VA Form 21-22a. It appoints us as your accredited representative and gives us access to your VA file.
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It involves the registration form and signing VA Form 21-22a — by law we can’t accept your claim, work on it, or contact the VA for you until that power of attorney is signed. You decide whether to move forward.
Answers, in plain language
Common questions about Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors
What is Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors?
Beyond a headstone and burial, the nation offers three lasting honors for a veteran: a Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by the President, military funeral honors with the folding and presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps, and a burial flag for the family to keep. These are free, they are earned, and a family that knows to ask will not miss them in the rush of grief.
Who qualifies for Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors?
This benefit is generally for: Surviving spouse, Family planning a veteran funeral, Adult children of a veteran, Veteran planning ahead. Presidential Memorial Certificate (VA Form 40-0247) Military funeral honors - flag folding and Taps
How do I apply for Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors?
For military funeral honors, tell your funeral director the veteran's branch and give them a copy of the DD-214 - they contact the service to schedule the honor detail. Request the burial flag with VA Form 27-2008 (available at any VA office, most funeral homes, and USPS post offices). For the Presidential Memorial Certificate, submit VA Form 40-0247 - online through AccessVA, by mail to the NCA Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547, by fax to 800-455-7143, or in person at a VA regional office - and include copies of the DD-214 and death certificate.
What does it cost to get help with Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors, and are you VA-accredited?
In the fog of planning a funeral, these honors are easy to overlook - and once the service has passed, the flag-folding moment cannot be repeated. Tell your funeral director early that you want military funeral honors; they are routine to arrange and cost nothing. For veterans buried in a national cemetery, a Presidential Memorial Certificate is usually issued automatically, but for a private or state cemetery - or for extra copies for children and grandchildren - you must file Form 40-0247. Always send copies, never original documents, because they will not be returned. It is free to talk with us, and no one may charge you to file a first-time VA claim. The Aging Veteran is led by Albert L.
