Veterans Funeral Benefits

Honoring Veterans

Virgil T. Golden Funeral Services has served veterans and supported soldiers on active duty as a regular part of our history in the Salem area since 1949. Below you will find benefits for families of veterans after the death has occurred, as well as various programs to support active duty soldiers.

Benefits available to an honorably discharged veteran and their family are:

Burial or placement of an urn in a National Cemetery. The veteran, spouse and eligible dependents are all eligible to be placed or buried at a National Cemetery. If the spouse should pass away first, all that is needed is a copy of the veterans DD214 or discharge papers. The closest National Cemetery is Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

The veteran’s family may have military honors at any location, a cemetery, memorial service, church, funeral home or at private residence.

The family is eligible to receive a flag, approximately 5’ x 9’.

One benefit on more of the local level is a possibility of a reduction of property taxes thru the county for the surviving spouse. The family does need to make the contact with the proper county to follow thru with this benefit.

For the veteran, a memorial marker to be placed in any cemetery. This marker is available in bronze or granite.

More information on markers >

For any cash benefits from the VA, Golden’s will assist the family in applying for these benefits. We do apply for all veterans, however, there is usually only a cash benefit if the veteran was receiving a pension or disability from the VA. The VA is the one who has the final decision and it may take 90 to 120 days before such benefit would be received if it applicable.

Below are the links to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs so you are able to see directly from the VA what benefits are available.

Again, Golden’s will assist the family and secure many of these benefits on their behalf.

U.S. Dept. Veterans Affairs Links: Main Site - Burial benefits - Headstones, Markers, and Medallions - Presidential Memorial Certificates

For possible property tax exemptions for a veterans spouse or registered domestic partner contact:
Marion County Assessor’s Office at (503) 588-5144, or Polk County Assessor’s Office at 503-623-8391.
Links: Marion County Veterans Property Exemptions or Polk County Property Exemptions

Other Programs:
NATIONWIDE GRAVESITE LOCATOR > Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, State Veterans Cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker - website link >