Veterans Overview

There are actually five items to consider when talking about veteran’s funeral benefits, all of which require the funeral home to be provided with a copy of the veteran's discharge documentation – also known as a DD-214 – which shows that the veteran has been honorably discharged from service.

Every honorably discharged veteran is entitled to burial in a state or national veteran's cemetery at no cost to the family for the burial plot or cremation niche, applicable basic outer burial container (as required) and a headstone/marker.

Every veteran is entitled to a burial flag, provided by the United States government. We will procure this flag on your family's behalf as part of our services. Click here for more in-depth information about burial flags. Johnston & Williams provides a complimentary cherry flag case to the family of every veteran we are called upon to serve.  We do this as our gift of appreciation for your loved one's honorable service to our country.

Every veteran is entitled to a grave marker, provided at no cost to the family by the United States government, however the cost of placing it in a private cemetery is at your family’s own expense. We will help coordinate those specific details on your family’s behalf. Click here for more in-depth information about veterans headstones.

Every veteran is entitled to a military honors ceremony, which consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veteran's family and the playing of Taps. We are also proud to partner with the Kittitas County Veteran's Association and the Cle Elum VFW Post (as applicable based on service location) to offer a gun salute as part of the honors ceremony.

Some veterans are entitled to monetary assistance for funeral expenses, with the primary qualifiers including having a service related disability, whether or not a military pension or disability assistance was being drawn, and whether or not the death occurred in a VA Hospital or care facility under VA Contract.  If your loved one was a veteran, we will connect you with the Kittitas County Veteran's Coalition who will be able to assist you in navigating the burial benefits process.

We consider our obligation to care for veterans and their families of utmost importance and stand ready and willing to assist your family to obtain all funeral and death related benefits to which you or your veteran are entitled.