Veterans Funeral, Cremation & Burial Benefits in Clinton & Centre County, Pennsylvania
Many of us take our freedoms for granted, but the staff at Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services proudly acknowledges the sacrifices made by those local Clinton & Centre County Veterans who have served our country through their patriotism, love of country and willingness to protect others.
Our family & staff are committed to providing quality service and professional assistance to help families complete the necessary forms to obtain benefits that are provided through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for deceased veterans.
Clinton & Centre County Veterans Offices
Clinton County Office of Veterans Affairs, 217 N. Jay Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
- Phone: 570-893-4339
- Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri) 8:00am - 12:30pm (Wed)
Centre County Veterans Affairs, Willowbank Office Building, 420 Holmes Street (Room 333), Bellefonte, PA 16823
- Phone: (814) 355-6812
- Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Free VA Burial & Cremation Benefits at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery
Burial in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery is open to all Clinton & Centre County, PA Veterans, military of the armed forces and active military who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
A Veteran's spouse, widow or widower, minor dependent children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the Veteran.
Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty or who die while on training duty, or were eligible for retired pay, may also be eligible for burial.
Burial & Cremation Benefits at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery
The cemetery employees believe that Indiantown Gap National Cemetery is not only the resting place for your loved ones, but also a place for the living to treasure their memories in a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere. It is their goal to preserve the dignity, beauty, and serenity of these hallowed grounds at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery for years to come.
Burial benefits available at no cost to the family:
- FREE Gravesite
- FREE Opening and Closing of the Grave
- FREE Grave Liner (for casket burials)
- FREE Perpetual Care
- FREE Government Headstone or Marker
- FREE Burial Flag
- FREE Presidential Memorial Certificate
Cremation benefits available at no cost to the family:
- FREE Gravesite or Cremation Niche
- FREE Opening and Closing of the Grave or Cremation Niche
- FREE Perpetual Care
- FREE Government Headstone or Marker
- FREE Burial Flag
- FREE Presidential Memorial Certificate
Veterans Burial Benefits for Spouse
Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse's or dependent's name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran's headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran.
Veterans Cremation Interment Benefits
Cremated remains can be buried or inurned at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains. If you've selected cremation, there are multiple options available. For example, cremated remains may be interred in an in-ground gravesite or a columbarium.
We will assist the Veteran's family will making funeral or cremation arrangements and make sure all documentation is taken care of. We will also contact the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Scheduling Office to schedule the burial or inurnment. Any item or service obtained from Gedon Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Lock Haven or Mill Hall, PA, will be at the family's expense.
Information about a National Veterans Cemetery Near Us in Pennsylvania
Address: Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA 17003
Phone: 717-865-5254
Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day.
Indiantown Gap derives its name from the various Native American communities that populated the region. Starting in the 1930s, it became a training area for the United States Army and control of the facility was turned over to the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1998.
In 1976, a section of Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation was selected as the national cemetery for the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania donated land for the site to the US Veterans Administration (now known as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs), specifically the branch of the VA known as the National Cemetery Administration (NCA).
Since 1976, the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery has been administered by the NCA and is a separate entity from the section of Fort Indiantown Gap assigned to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Veterans Burial Benefits Overview
The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veterans' family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.
The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail or a Standard Honors Team Detail.
At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the veteran/family.
Who is eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Who is not eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Any person separated from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions or whose character of service results in a bar to veteran's benefits.
- Any person who was ordered to report to an induction station, but was not actually inducted into military service.
- Any person discharged from the Selected Reserve prior to completing one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service for reasons other than a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
- Any person convicted of a Federal or State capital crime sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
How do I establish veteran eligibility?
The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:
National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from the National Records Center or via the following web site: http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
Is anyone else eligible to receive funeral honors?
Yes. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as members of a Uniformed Service, are also eligible to receive funeral honors.
For NOAA personnel, eligibility is established using NOAA Form 56-16, Report of Transfer or Discharge. If the family does not have a copy of the NOAA Form 56-16, it may by obtained by contacting the Chief, Officer Services Division, NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center at (301) 713-7715. or by writing:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commissioned Personnel Center
Chief, Officer Services Division (CPC1)
1315 East-West Highway, Room 12100
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
For PHS personnel, funeral honors eligibility is established using PHS Form 1867, Statement of Service (equivalent to the DD Form 214). If the family does not have a copy of the Statement of Service, it may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Coordinator for the Commissioned Corps at (240) 453-6041 or writing:
Division of Commissioned Personnel/HRS/PSC
Attention: Privacy Act Coordinator
5600 Fishers Lane
4-36
Rockville, Maryland 20857
In this section
Lock Haven Funeral Home Directions & Hours
George A. Gedon, Supervisor/Funeral Director
Mill Hall Funeral Home Directions & Hours
Michael A. Gedon, Supervisor/Funeral Director
Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services LLC of Lock Haven and Mill Hall has been in continuous operation for over 185 years. We are committed to each family we serve and do so with compassion and sensitivity in time of need. The respect and professionalism shown to each family we serve has earned us a solid reputation and we invite you to read some of our recent testimonials by clicking the testimonials tab above.
A year of daily grief support
Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services. Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year. You can unsubscribe at any time.
We provide funeral home & cremation services to all of Centre & Clinton County, PA including, Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Flemington, Beech Creek, Blanchard, Howard, Woolrich, Avis, McElhattan, Mackeyville, Lamar, Jersey Shore, Salladasburg, Castanea Township, Jersey Mills, Woodward Township, Morris, Loganton, North Bend, Renovo, Waterville, Haneyville, and all other surrounding communities.