The people of Lawrence County are grateful for the many sacrifices each veteran has willingly made in the service of our country and for the cause of freedom throughout the world.

As a symbol of their appreciation, the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners extends the services and benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs to those veterans and their dependents.

LEGAL RESIDENCE

The term “legal residence” shall be construed as synonymous with “domicile” and is hereby defined as actual residence, coupled with intention that it shall be permanent, or a residence presently fixed with no definite intention of changing it or returning to a former residence at some future period.  Legal residence is to be determined by abode of person and his/her intention to abandon his/her former domicile and establish a new one.  The legal residence of a deceased service person shall be prima facie in the county where he/she made his/her abode at the time of his/her death.

BURIAL ALLOWANCE

Lawrence County extends an allowance of $100.00 toward the funeral and burial of honorably discharged veterans who served during any war in which the United States was engaged, and whose legal residence at time of death was Lawrence County.  One day’s service during wartime fulfills the time requirement for eligibility.  Application for this benefit must be made within one year after the death of the veteran. 

The federal government pays $600.00 towards the burial of a non-service connected veteran.  The amount of $2,000.00 is payable towards the death of a veteran, who’s death is service connected.  Also, the VA will pay transportation charges towards the burial, if the veteran had died in a VA medical center.  These charges include transportation from the VA medical center, to the veteran’s final resting place.  Some exceptions do apply. www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/burials/Burialeg_0508.doc.

HEADSTONES

An individual may choose one of two allowances for a headstone.

1. Up to $75.00 towards installation of the federal marker or headstone; or
2. Up to $75.00 towards lettering for military inscription on a private headstone.

The County Department of Veterans Affairs will furnish information concerning inscription to appear on the headstone.  It is to include veteran’s name, year of birth and death, rank and name of war in which service was rendered.

A federal government headstone is provided to all honorably discharged veterans. If you have any questions about your marker, please contact the Monument Division, Washington, D.C. at 1-800-697-6947 or www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmelig.asp

SURVIVORS PENSION

Death pension is available to eligible spouses demonstrating financial need. For eligibility requirements, please visit: www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/survivors/DeathPensioneg_0108.doc.

Dependent’s Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is available to surviving spouses when the veteran’s death is proven to be related to a service-connected condition. For more details, please visit: www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/survivors/DICeg_0108.doc.

SPOUSE BURIAL ALLOWANCE

There is a $100.00 burial allowance towards the funeral of a spouse of a deceased wartime veteran.  The spouse must have resided in Lawrence County at the time of his/her death.  Application for this benefit must be made within one year from date of death of said spouse.
 

COPIES OF BIRTH/DEATH CERTIFICATES

You may obtain free copies of birth or death certificate for a veteran or a widow of a veteran.  You may ask the funeral director or come and apply for them at our office.  You will need the veteran’s discharge/DD214 to complete the application.

FLAGS & FLAG HOLDERS FOR GRAVES OF LAWRENCE COUNTY VETERANS

Lawrence County provides flags and flag holders for Memorial Day observance.  These flags and holders are used to decorate the graves of veterans buried in the county.  The Department of Veterans Affairs provides the holders free to various veterans organizations which will assume the responsibility of placing them on the appropriate graves.  They are also available to individual families requesting them from the department.

The following are the types of flag holders available:

Revolutionary War – War of 1812 – Indian War – Civil War - Spanish-American War – World War I – World War II – Korean Conflict – Vietnam Era – Persian Gulf – Iraqi Freedom.

Whoever steals or attempts to steal any veteran’s grave marker is guilty of larceny, a felony, and upon conviction shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to undergo imprisonment for one year, or both.

Whoever buys and receives, for use as junk or scrap metal, any veteran’s grave marker or emblem is also subject to the same penalties.

Copies of Birth/Death Certificates

You may obtain free copies of birth or death certificate for a veteran or a widow of a veteran.  You may ask the funeral director or come and apply for them at our office.  You will need the veteran’s discharge/DD214 to complete the application.