Have you heard about the Missing in America Project?  Their mission is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. To provide honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes.  To date they have visited 592 funeral homes, identified 491 unclaimed veterans cremains and interred 321.

Many veterans are unaware of the benefits available to them.  Most funeral homes won't even mention these benefits!  At Indiana Funeral Care, we are proud to serve veterans and their spouses and work hard to make sure they get all of the benefits to which they are entitled, such as:

• Free cemetery space at a natioanl cemetery
• Free burial vault
• Free opening and closing
• Free grave marker

Contact Indiana Funeral Care today to find out more about veteran benefits.  We offer discount cremations starting at $890 and complete church funerals starting at $3,950. 

Several casket stores have come and gone in Indianapolis.  Costco continues to sell caskets, but according to a friend that works there, he has not seen much demand or interest.  As far as cheap caskets Indianapolis, they are hard to find.  Indiana Funeral Care prices it's caskets at prices much lower than other funeral homes in Indianapolis....and they are American made!  Some funeral homes in Indianapolis have started selling caskets made in China, which is okay, I guess.  But due to the number of veterans funeral services we perform and just plain old patriotic feelings, we have stayed with American manufacturers.  The price is fair, the quality is dependable and consistent and we can obtain just about any color or material in 24 hours. 

Most veterans have no idea that VA National Cemeteries offer a free grave, free opening and closing of the grave, free outer burial container and free marker for the veteran AND spouse.  When people are planning funerals for veterans, they should at least consider a National Cemetery.  An honorable and beautiful place for burial and they will save thousands of dollars.  

Hanging out at the VFW Post #10003 last night at the reception to honor Del Waugh, a member's wife said her husband understood that VA Funerals were paid for by the VA until just recently.  When they asked a local funeral home about VA benefits, they responded that they did not know, but would look into it.  We can clarify VA Funeral benefits in advance with just a call.  Now that he realized that there is not such thing as VA Funerals and that the benefits would not cover the cost, he wants to preplan his funeral.

After witnessing the funeral at the Indiana War Memorial this week, I cannot think of a more fitting location for funerals for veterans.  The grandeur, history and significance of the Indiana War Memorial is inspiring and makes attendees proud and appreciative of the dedication and commitment to our country of our veterans.  It doesn't seem so much like a funeral, but more an expression of gratitude and celebration of an unselfish life lived and gift given!

Many veterans are unaware of the benefits available to them.  Most funeral homes won't even mention these benefits!  At Indiana Funeral Care, we are proud to serve veterans and their spouses and work hard to make sure they get all of the benefits to which they are entitled, such as:

• Free cemetery space at a natioanl cemetery
• Free burial vault
• Perpetual care with no annual maintenance fee
• Free grave marker

The U.S. Navy will also scatter ashes from a war ship and conduct a full military honor ceremony. Active military personnel are permitted on board the ship only, however, the Navy will send a video to the family. For those veterans who have given 20 years active duty, they are entitled to a free burial at sea.

Contact Indiana Funeral Care today to find out more about veteran benefits.  We offer discount cremations starting at $890 and complete church funerals starting at $3,950. 

I am frustrated and saddened when we receive calls (like we did today) that a funeral home did not make arrangements for military honors for a funeral for a veteran.  It is so simple and so richly deserved!  When any funeral home performs funerals for veterans, I believe they have an obligation to make arrangements for military honors to be performed by a local burial team or with active duty personnel from the branch of service.
    Regardless of the funeral home, call us, we will make those arrangements, "on behalf of a grateful nation!"

What an honor to participate in the American Legion National Convention in Phoenix in the last few days.  The response from Legion members to our funerals for veterans packages was very well received.  Many of the attendees were not aware of the veterans burial benefits at the VA national cemetery and were very appreciative of the services Veterans Funeral Care provides for less fortunate veterans and their families.  We heard a lot of great stories and met a lot of impressive men and women that have served our country! 

(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.

 We are honored to serve families of less fortunate veterans in need of financial assistance.  When a Veteran dies in a VA Medical Center or if his or her care is contracted out to a hospice or nursing facility (domiciled):  

    A.  Indiana Funeral Care will pick up the body of the deceased, meet with the family to complete all documents, bathe, dress and casket, in a minimum flat top casket, arrange for a military graveside service and transport to the closest VA cemetery for that service.  We will provide those services for the VA burial benefits, there will be no charge to the family.
    B.  Indiana Funeral Care will pick up the body of the deceased, meet with the family to complete all documents, cremate and transport to the closest VA cemetery for a military graveside committal service.  We will provide those services for the VA burial benefits, there will be no charge to the family. 

We are most grateful for our veterans and their service to our country!

I was honored to speak to the incoming District Commanders at the American Legion Department of Indiana, July 13.  One of the Commanders volunteered that he learned he could transfer the arrangements he had made for he and his wife to be cremated.  They made the arrangements before they were aware of cremation services offered by Veterans Funeral Care through the American Legion.  He was amazed that our prices on cremation services were so much less expensive.  He was very pleased to learn that Veterans Funeral Care refunds the excess amount in the trust at the time of need to the next of kin and wanted other Legionnaires to be aware of that.

 When applying for veteran funeral expenses, the discharge papers or DD214 are required.  If unable to find it then we will help them request it.  All it takes is a signature from the next of kin on a request form with some information about that veteran.   We will then fax it to the veteran's administration.  They in turn will fax a copy to us.  At that point we can apply for the veteran's benefits. 

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.

There is a family that I have been working with for a couple months.  Both grandparents are dieing and they do not want to spend a lot on their funerals or have the money to do so.  Through a search of cheap funerals Indiana and funerals for veterans, they found us.  While pre-planning the funeral with the family and talking, they decided on an immediate burial at Marion National Cemetery. 
For veterans if they decide to be buried or have their ashes buried at any National Cemetery there is no cost to the family.  The plot, opening and closing of the grave space, the vault, and grave marker are all provided by the government as long as the veteran can show proof that he was honorable discharged.
After explaining this to the family, you could actually see the relief they felt knowing that husband and wife could still have a final resting place together and it would not cost them anything.  They were then able to pick out a low cost casket and keep the funeral cost at $2500.00 for both funerals.
I left their house that day with a feeling of pride.  I was able to offer them everything they wanted and I was not taking advantage of them by charging a lot of money for something they could not afford.

I had a family the other day that came in and requested services for their dad.  Dad's wishes were to be cremated and not to spend a lot of money on services.  The daughters wanted to carry out his wishes but they also needed to have some closure of their own and a direct cremation just wasn't what they wanted.  After talking to them we explained that they could have a traditional funeral, meaning a visitation and service followed by a cremation.  The daughters were very excited.  They were going to be able to carry out their fathers wishes and still have the closure that they needed all for a low cost. 
To add value to the services we had military honors arranged to be conducted at our funeral home since cremation was to follow.  With their dad having been an honorably discharged veteran we wanted to make sure he was honored for what he did for us and our country.  After the honor guard came forward and saluted their dad, two gentlemen who were there for the funeral service saluted also.  
It gave them a wonderful feeling for honoring their dad and his wishes, but still having a meaningful service for them.