(if you have already read part 1, just skip down to the numbers part to compare ground burial vs. mausolem spaces in a private cemetery's veteran section) 

Free burial spaces for veterans? Well, it is true, but unless you go to a National Cemetery, you can easily pay over $8000 for a "free" grave or crypt for a veteran and their spouse. Let's start with the simple part: An honorably discharged veteran and their spouse are entitled to free graves, free grave liners, free headstones, free open & closing (the digging), and free perpetual care. This is if they select any National Cemetery for their resting place (Marion National is the closest to Indianapolis).
    Private cemeteries love to advertise "free burial spaces for veterans" which is technically true, but then they charge for the grave for the spouse, the open & closing of the grave, the headstone, the headstone backing, the headstone installation, a paperwork processing fee, a perpetual care fee, a consumer protection fee- for BOTH the veteran and the spouse. Remember, it is TOTALLY FREE for BOTH at any of our fine National cemeteries.
    I recently visited a local cemetery and inquired about Veteran's burial for my father-in-law, a Vietnam Veteran who served two tours in the Marine Corps. (Semper Fi!!!)  Whereas his grave ($1100) and VA Bronze marker were free, the other charges were as follows:

    Mausoleum Crypts
    veteran's crypt-     free 
spouse's grave-            $4895
administrative fee        $95    (for paperwork, etc.)
consumer protection fee    $48.95
open & closing for veteran    $695
open & closing for spouse    $695
                So far, we are at $6428.95

Instead of headstones, the crypt has an engraved front or a face plate
veteran's crypt plate-        $750
spouse's crypt plate-        $750
sales tax                        $105
total for crypt plates        $1605
Add the two together, and the grand total is $8033.95 to entomb the veteran and the spouse (but the veteran's crypt is "free")

In all fairness, Mausolem entombment is not available in all VA cemeteries.
In all fairness, care and respect for veterans is not available in all private cemeteries.

Thanks for listening! Please feel free to email any questions to me at info@indianafuneralcare.com

Free burial spaces for veterans? Well, it is true, but unless you go to a National Cemetery, you can easily pay over $8000 for a "free" grave for a veteran and their spouse. Let's start with the simple part: An honorably discharged veteran and their spouse are entitled to free graves, free grave liners, free headstones, free open & closing (the digging), and free perpetual care. This is if they select any National Cemetery for their resting place (Marion National is the closest to Indianapolis).
    Private cemeteries love to advertise "free burial spaces for veterans" which is technically true, but then they charge for the grave for the spouse, the open & closing of the grave, the headstone, the headstone backing, the headstone installation, a paperwork processing fee, a perpetual care fee, a consumer protection fee- for BOTH the veteran and the spouse. Remember, it is TOTALLY FREE for BOTH at any of our fine National cemeteries.
    I recently visited a local cemetery and inquired about Veteran's burial for my father-in-law, a Vietnam Veteran who served two tours in the Marine Corps. (Semper Fi!!!)  Whereas his grave ($1100) and VA Bronze marker were free, the other charges were as follows:
    veteran's grave-     free 
perpetual care fee-      $165
spouse's grave-            $1100
administrative fee        $95    (for paperwork, etc.)
consumer protection fee    $11.00
veteran's 'vault'            $975 for basic vault
spouse'  'vault'             $975 for basic vault
open & closing for veteran    $975
open & closing for spouse    $975
                So far, we are at $5111.00
Do you want a headstone? For both husband and wife, the charges are:
veteran's flat bronze marker    $free (provided by VA)
matching bronze for spouse    $1060    (no, that is not a typo)
Granite base for both markers    $1030
Vase                                    $730    
concrete foundation for base    $260
installation fee                    $200
perpetual care fee            $248
sales tax                         $125.30
        Total for the headstones: $3653.50
Add the two together, and the grand total is $8764.30 to bury the veteran and the spouse (but the veteran's grave is "free")

Stay tuned for "The illusion of the deal Part 2" which is for mausoleum entombment...

Even though i have experienced military honors many, many times, i still get goosebumps when i hear the notes of "TAPS'  played at the conclusion. Many families tell me "I don't care about the funeral part, but Dad really wanted a military service", referring to the honors rendered at the conclusion of the service (usually at the graveside, but not always). After participating in this solemn occasion, there is rarely not a dry eye or person that hasn't been touched by the ceremony. I believe the military honors are the perfect conclusion to any celebration of a veteran's life. It is meaningful, cathartic, and leaves behind a reminder of how soldiers take care of fellow soldiers, no matter the circumstances. For those who have served, no matter how young or old, it reinforces the camaraderie of the military and their ideals. For civilians who have not served, it is a powerful reminder of the dedication those in uniform have for the cause of the greater good and the steadfastness of those who have answered the call of duty.

 Cheap doesn't have to mean low-quality. Why pay more than you need to? Our cost for direct cremation is reasonable, affordable, and we treat your family and loved one as if they were our own. We can offer cheap cremations and cheap funerals not because we are doing a half-assed job, but because we are a small family-owned business that believe that things can be done differently than most other funeral homes and discount cremation providers. You can have as much involvement with the cremation as you'd like- even accompaning your loved one to the crematory and participating in the cremation, and there will be no doubt in your mind that we take care of everybody - living and dead- and that you can still have a cheap cremation that is done properly, with respect and care. How many other service providers will allow that?
http://indianafuneralcare.com/cremation.html

Cheap doesn't have to mean low-quality. I am proud that we can offer many cheap caskets that are nice enough for my own family to use (although mine is a cremation family) that don't look cheap or trashy. Check out the caskets in our Indiana Church Funeral Plans- http://indianafuneralcare.com/icfp.html They are nice and dignified, and they are inexpensive caskets that are good. We don't offer anything that we wouldn't use for our own loved ones. You don't have to overspend to get the quality care your family deserves.

Funeral arrangements are usually never a fun thing to do. Our goal is to make the entire experience as simple and painless for our families. Sometimes you don't have to come to the funeral home to make arrangements because often we are able to make them at your family's home, over the telephone, or by email. If we are making more detailed arrangements for a funeral or memorial service, the selection of merchandise (casket, urn, memorial folders) can be done with a laptop computer or photos. Even though our funeral home is in Indianapolis, we can bring our funeral home to you. This way, everyone in Indiana can receive quality assistance from a funeral home that truly cares about the families we serve.

 "As cheap as possible, no offense" are words that I frequently hear from families that don't have any interest in doing the traditional funeral service. Of course I'm not offended, because what works for one individual or family might not work for another. "To each their own" is a good philosophy to hold in this business.
But what defines cheap? Low cost funerals or low cost direct cremations can be done, and done with class, but Value is more important than dollars. It can be hard to put a dollar value to how a person feels when they feel as if they and their loved one have been taken care of properly. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to be treated with dignity and respect. Simply call or visit us and you'll see why we have the word "CARE" in our name. It doesn't matter if you're seeking a discount cremation or discount funeral, or if you'd prefer 'going all out' with all the bells & whistles. Everyone gets the same loving care from us because at Indiana Funeral Care, it's our family taking care of your family.

During my travels in Indiana I have come across many different cemeteries. Some are huge, some historic, and there are some that most folks have probably forgotten even exist. One of my favorite cemeteries in Indiana is Marion National Cemetery.  I have many, many reasons why my favorite cemetery is a Veteran's Cemetery just northeast of Indianapolis-

• The grounds are beautifully kept. It doesn't matter what the season is, it is always taken care of.
• There are NO CEMETERY CHARGES for the burial of the honorably discharged veteran AND their spouse. You can still be laid to rest, with your loved one and your service to your country has reserved both of you a place at any national cemetery in the country.
• My families are always taken care of there- The dead are always treated with respect and care, and their living survivors are treated well by the cemetery staff. They are not commissioned salespeople that are friendly only to sell you something; most are also veterans serving fellow veterans.
• I love how the white upright veteran's headstones make symmetrical lines going left-right, forward-backward, and even diagonally!
•         
• The setting is beautiful and peaceful. There are no sounds of traffic or construction, only the rustling of the leaves and the serene sounds of the birds and your own footsteps.

It is an honor and privledge to be laid to rest there, and there is still a camaradarie among veterans, even in their solemn slumber. Military honors are always available, and the rank of the veteran determines which honors will be rendered. There is also an excellent VSO that supplements the honors with a 21-rifle salute and chaplain if so desired.

I have many photos of the cemetery taken during different times of the year. We'd love to share them; simply email a request to us at info@indianafuneralcare.com

Also, if you should have any questions about funerals for veterans, veteran's benefits, military honors, VA funerals, please contact us. Even though we specialize in veterans funerals, we take care of everyone.  We pride ourselves on our low cost funerals with excellent quality service in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana.