National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona: Veteran Burial Benefits Explained

A family member served their country, and one of the most meaningful honors available to them after death is burial in a national cemetery. The National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix is one of the most active national cemeteries in the country — and for eligible veterans and their spouses, it offers burial at no cost for the plot, opening and closing, liner, and grave marker.

But the way veterans' burial benefits work confuses a lot of families. The VA provides significant benefits, but it does not pay for everything. Knowing exactly what is covered — and what is not — lets you pair these benefits with other arrangements to minimize cost and avoid being caught off guard by unexpected expenses.

What Is the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona?

The National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona is a United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemetery located in Phoenix. It is one of the largest national cemeteries by active burial volume, serving a region with an exceptionally high concentration of veterans due to Arizona's military bases, retiree population, and year-round climate.

The cemetery offers interment primarily through in-ground burial and above-ground interment in columbarium niches for cremated remains. Full-casket in-ground burial plots and cremation burial plots are available to eligible individuals at no cost to the family.

Burials at national cemeteries are conducted with military honors for veterans, including a flag presentation to the next of kin. This is separate from the funeral service itself and is coordinated through the Department of Defense.

Who Is Eligible for Burial at a National Cemetery in Arizona?

The VA's eligibility rules determine who qualifies for burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. Eligibility is primarily based on the veteran's discharge status and service period.

Veterans who are eligible include:

• Veterans discharged from active military service under conditions other than dishonorable
• Members of the Reserve components who die while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
• Members of certain Reserve components who were entitled to retired pay at the time of death, or who would have been entitled at age 60
• Recipients of the Medal of Honor

Certain non-veterans who are eligible as dependents include:

• The spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran (including divorced spouses who remarried but whose subsequent spouse is also deceased)
• Minor children of an eligible veteran (unmarried, under age 21, or under age 23 if enrolled in an approved school program)
• Unmarried adult children of an eligible veteran who became permanently physically or mentally disabled before age 21

Veterans who received a dishonorable discharge are not eligible. Eligibility for some cases — particularly those involving less-than-honorable discharges or service in the Reserves — requires individual review.

What the VA Pays For

For eligible veterans buried in a national cemetery, the VA provides the following at no charge:

Gravesite: The burial plot or columbarium niche is provided at no cost. There is no purchasing, leasing, or annual maintenance fee for the family.

Opening and closing of the grave: The labor and equipment costs for preparing and closing the gravesite are covered by the VA.

Grave liner: A concrete liner or grave box, which keeps the burial site level over time, is provided at no cost.

Headstone or marker: The VA provides one government headstone or marker for eligible veterans. Families choose from standard designs, and the marker is manufactured and shipped to the cemetery at no charge. Alternatively, the VA provides a Presidential Memorial Certificate — a certificate bearing the President's signature — to recognize the veteran's service.

Military funeral honors: Under federal law, veterans' funerals are entitled to military honors conducted by the Department of Defense. At minimum, this includes two uniformed service members who fold and present the American flag to the next of kin and play or render "Taps" (either live or by recording). Full military honors with a ceremonial team may be available depending on branch and local availability.

These benefits together represent a significant reduction in the total cost of final disposition compared to a commercial burial.

What the VA Does Not Pay For

This is the part that catches families off guard. The VA covers the cemetery and the honors. It does not cover the funeral service itself — and in many cases, those costs are substantial.

The VA does not pay for:

• Funeral home basic services fee (typically $1,500 to $2,500)
• Transportation of remains to the national cemetery
• Embalming or other body preparation (if applicable or desired)
• A casket or alternative container (if the veteran is being buried in a casket rather than cremated)
• A viewing, visitation, or funeral ceremony conducted at a funeral home
• Flowers, obituary fees, death certificate copies, or other incidentals

For a veteran whose family opts for cremation first, then burial of the cremated remains at the national cemetery, the out-of-pocket cost to the family is the cremation itself. Direct cremation in Arizona currently ranges from approximately $800 to $1,500, depending on the provider. After cremation, the cremated remains are transported to the national cemetery, where VA benefits cover the columbarium niche or inurnment.

For a veteran whose family prefers traditional casket burial at the national cemetery, the family pays the funeral home for body preparation, viewing (if desired), and the casket. The VA covers only the burial itself at the cemetery — not what happens before the body arrives there.

The VA Burial Allowance for Non-Service-Connected Deaths

Separate from the national cemetery burial benefit, the VA offers a burial allowance — a cash payment — that can offset some of the costs the VA does not directly cover.

For veterans whose death was not service-connected, the VA burial allowance is currently up to $948 for burial and funeral expenses, and up to $948 for plot or interment expenses (if the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery). If the veteran is buried in a national cemetery, the plot allowance generally does not apply since the plot is free, but the funeral expense portion may still be payable.

For veterans whose death was service-connected — meaning their death was caused by or related to their military service — the VA burial allowance is significantly higher.

The burial allowance is a reimbursement, not advance payment. The family pays first, then submits a claim to the VA. Claims must be filed within two years of the veteran's burial. The form is VA Form 21P-530EZ, available through the VA's benefits portal.

How to Schedule a Burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

Coordinating a burial at a national cemetery is done through the funeral home, not directly by the family. The funeral home contacts the cemetery to schedule the committal service (the graveside ceremony at the national cemetery) and to confirm eligibility.

To initiate the process, the funeral home will need:

• The veteran's DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or equivalent discharge documentation
• The death certificate
• Basic personal information about the deceased

If the veteran's family cannot locate the DD-214, copies can be requested through the National Archives (eVetRecs system) or the National Personnel Records Center. Processing time for military records requests varies, but the VA may be able to expedite for burial purposes.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the cemetery assigns a burial date. The National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona schedules committal services during weekday hours. Families should discuss scheduling flexibility with the funeral home, as the cemetery's calendar fills quickly given the volume of burials it handles.

The family selects a headstone or marker type. The application is submitted through the VA, and the marker is shipped to the cemetery — typically within 60 to 90 days of submission. In the interim, a temporary marker is placed at the gravesite.

Burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona Versus a Private Cemetery

Families sometimes face a choice between burial at the national cemetery and burial at a private cemetery where other family members are interred, or in a location closer to where surviving family lives.

The practical comparison looks like this: burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona eliminates the cost of the plot, liner, opening and closing, and marker — expenses that at a private cemetery can total $3,000 to $6,000 or more depending on location. For many families, the financial benefit is decisive.

The tradeoff is location. The national cemetery in Phoenix may not be near where surviving family members live, particularly if the family is spread across the state or the country. Visiting the gravesite requires travel for families based elsewhere.

For veterans whose families prefer local interment, the VA burial allowance can partially offset the cost of a private cemetery plot.

Planning Ahead for a Veterans Burial in Arizona

For veterans who want to plan their own burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in advance, the VA offers a pre-need eligibility determination. Families can submit a request through the VA while the veteran is still living, confirm eligibility, and document the preference for national cemetery burial. This removes uncertainty from the family during an already difficult time.

Veterans and their families can reach the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona for scheduling and general information through the VA's national cemetery scheduling office.

Veterans' burial benefits represent one of the most meaningful forms of recognition available after a life of service. But the gap between what the VA covers and what a funeral home charges is real, and the families who plan for it are the ones who avoid expensive surprises.

For a complete breakdown of Arizona funeral laws — covering disposition permits, cremation authorization, consumer rights under the FTC Funeral Rule, and how to pair VA benefits with low-cost cremation providers — the Arizona Funeral Laws and Consumer Rights Guide walks through each step in plain English.

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