Military and Veteran's Information

Military & Veteran's Services

In Virginia we are very lucky to be surrounded by all branches of the military. Since 1901, we have helped thousands of veterans and retirees by providing services which show respect to the sacrifices they and their families have made for our country. During that time we have gathered extensive experience which helps us to provide the highest quality of services.

At R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, we encourage veterans to make the most of the benefits offered to them by the Veterans Administration. We regularly arrange for and conduct funerals in Arlington National Cemetery, Quantico National Cemetery, Hampton National Cemetery, and our local state owned veterans cemetery, Albert G. Horton, Jr. State Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk. Keep in mind that you can verify eligibility for burial in a National Cemetery but you cannot reserve a space for veteran and spouse or pre-register. You may pre-register with a State Veterans Cemetery and both National and State Veterans Cemeteries include space for the interment of a spouse when the other is interred.

In addition, we arrange funeral honors with each branch of service and obtain an American flag for each veteran from the Veterans Administration. While every veteran who is honorably discharged is entitled to receive funeral honors, the level of honors differs between veterans who are retired and those whose service ended before being eligible to retire. A retiree honors detail will consist of pall bearers, a rifle team to fire three volleys, a bugler, flag folders and flag presenter as well as a chaplain, if requested. A non-retired veterans honors detail will consist of a bugler, flag folders and a flag presenter.

The VA will also provide a headstone for the unmarked grave of any honorably discharged veteran or retiree. We assist in filling out the headstone application and also assist in filling out the Allowance for Burial Benefits form, VA 21-530; however, we are not experts when it comes to all of the benefits to which a veteran's family may be entitled. For information about benefits available from the Veterans Administration, there is an office located at 2101 Executive Drive, Suite 420, Hampton, 757-825-7893.

For more information about who is eligible for burial benefits and how much the VA will pay, please click HERE

For a fillable copy of the VA21-530 (Application for Burial Benefits) please click HERE.

For information about eligibility for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, please click HERE.

For information about eligibility for burial in other national cemeteries, please click HERE.

For information about eligibility for burial in Albert G. Horton, Jr. State Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk, VA please click HERE.

You can pre-register with The Albert G. Horton, Jr. State Veterans Cemetery. A copy of their preapplication may be found by clicking HERE.

Phone numbers for survivor assistance with other matters following the death of a veteran:

Fort Eustis Survivors Assistance 757-878-1118

Langley AFB Casualty Affairs 757-764-4080

Norfolk Navy Base Retired Affairs 1-866-827-5672