Cemetery Services
Email Notifications
We like to keep each of you informed of any changes that are implemented at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Please either call, fax, or email us with your most current email address and we can assure you prompt notification of any changes that may occur.
Services
It is imperative that time changes are not made without first contacting a cemetery representative. Your assistance is requested in moving the funeral procession away from the chapel on completion of the service, as another service could be scheduled. In cases where remains are being delivered to the cemetery for direct interment, no services desired, the funeral coach will be directed to the area where the casket will be removed from the coach.
It is imperative that you arrive on time for the scheduled interment. Some reasons include:
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Viewing of the Remains
Facilities for viewing remains are not provided at the cemetery. Viewing of remains is not allowed at the cemetery unless a special circumstance is discussed prior to the funeral with a cemetery representative.
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United States Burial Flag
Except in the case of cremations, the United States flag should be properly draped over the casket at the church or funeral home. Some families prefer the flag to be folded in a triangle when there is a casket spray. If the service at the cemetery has military funeral honors, or a veteran’s organization is performing honors, they will usually fold and present the flag to the next of kin or other designated individual. In the case when the flag is pre-folded, with either casketed remains or cremation, proper procedure is to unfold and then refold the flag prior to presentation to the next of kin.
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Outside Containers
The use of concrete burial vaults or a concrete box is required. The contractual arrangements for the purchase of such vaults will be made by the next of kin with you or the vault company, as the case might be. If the vault is over-sized the cemetery must be notified of the outside dimensions. Since some interments will be at the nine-foot level it is necessary that the vault or concrete box be substantial enough to support the weight of an additional vault and the earth above it.
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Headstone
Each grave at the cemetery will be marked with an upright granite headstone. A headstone is provided without charge for all veterans eligible for burial in the cemetery. This benefit also applies to National Guard or Reserve members who have at least 20 years of service. In addition, for the National Guard member that qualifies for burial at the cemetery but did not have 20-years of service, there is a $305 headstone fee. If this is applicable, please call and verify whom the check should be made out to. We contract with vendors that may change every year and the check needs to be made out to the appropriate vendor, not the cemetery.
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Plot Charges
There is no charge for burial plots; however, there will be a burial fee for all non-military (spouse or dependent’s) interments. The charge is currently $300.
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Items Needed on the Day of Interment
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Shell Polishing
We now have a tumbler that polishes the shells when a veteran has military funeral honors (MFH). If the family wishes, please provide us with the shells and we will polish and mail them to the family. The polishing does take one day to do and we try to mail them out the following day.
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Presidential Memorial Certificate
We will be ordering a presidential memorial certificate (PMC) for all veterans the day of the service. A PMC is a paper certificate engraved with the late veteran's name and signed by the current president. This does take 45 to 60 days for the family to receive. We will be using the point of contact listed on the burial transit to sent it to.
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Military Funeral Honors
Active duty and retirees are entitled to full honors that can be provided by the active military components. For example, a 20-year retiree from the Air Force is entitled to full honors that can be provided by the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases. An active duty or 20-year retiree from the National Guard is also eligible for full honors that can be supported by the North Dakota National Guard. In any case, if an active component is involved, they are authorized to travel to where ever the funeral may be.
Any retirees participating in military funeral honors for a veteran are entitled to receive compensation for travel and a $50 stipend. If you have any retires involved within your community, please have them contact the military funeral honors coordinator at the North Dakota Veteran Cemetery.
Please take time to visit the military funeral honors website. The website has useful information on the military funeral honors (MFH) program.
For additional information or questions on eligibility, stipends etc. Please contact the military funeral honors operations coordinator located at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.
[Back to Top]
We like to keep each of you informed of any changes that are implemented at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Please either call, fax, or email us with your most current email address and we can assure you prompt notification of any changes that may occur.
Services
- Headstone
- Interment Services
- Items Needed on the Day of Interment
- Military Funeral Honors
- Outside Containers
- Plot Charges
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Shell Polishing
- United States Burial Flag
- Viewing of the Remains
It is imperative that time changes are not made without first contacting a cemetery representative. Your assistance is requested in moving the funeral procession away from the chapel on completion of the service, as another service could be scheduled. In cases where remains are being delivered to the cemetery for direct interment, no services desired, the funeral coach will be directed to the area where the casket will be removed from the coach.
It is imperative that you arrive on time for the scheduled interment. Some reasons include:
- Military Funeral Honor Organizations may be waiting and have a service to follow
- Groundskeepers need adequate time to perform the burial in the event we have an interment to follow
- We may have an interment scheduled for the following hour in which we need to have the chapel ready
[Back to Top]
Viewing of the Remains
Facilities for viewing remains are not provided at the cemetery. Viewing of remains is not allowed at the cemetery unless a special circumstance is discussed prior to the funeral with a cemetery representative.
[Back to Top]
United States Burial Flag
Except in the case of cremations, the United States flag should be properly draped over the casket at the church or funeral home. Some families prefer the flag to be folded in a triangle when there is a casket spray. If the service at the cemetery has military funeral honors, or a veteran’s organization is performing honors, they will usually fold and present the flag to the next of kin or other designated individual. In the case when the flag is pre-folded, with either casketed remains or cremation, proper procedure is to unfold and then refold the flag prior to presentation to the next of kin.
[Back to Top]
Outside Containers
The use of concrete burial vaults or a concrete box is required. The contractual arrangements for the purchase of such vaults will be made by the next of kin with you or the vault company, as the case might be. If the vault is over-sized the cemetery must be notified of the outside dimensions. Since some interments will be at the nine-foot level it is necessary that the vault or concrete box be substantial enough to support the weight of an additional vault and the earth above it.
[Back to Top]
Headstone
Each grave at the cemetery will be marked with an upright granite headstone. A headstone is provided without charge for all veterans eligible for burial in the cemetery. This benefit also applies to National Guard or Reserve members who have at least 20 years of service. In addition, for the National Guard member that qualifies for burial at the cemetery but did not have 20-years of service, there is a $305 headstone fee. If this is applicable, please call and verify whom the check should be made out to. We contract with vendors that may change every year and the check needs to be made out to the appropriate vendor, not the cemetery.
[Back to Top]
Plot Charges
There is no charge for burial plots; however, there will be a burial fee for all non-military (spouse or dependent’s) interments. The charge is currently $300.
[Back to Top]
Items Needed on the Day of Interment
- If the veteran has pre-registered or we are performing a re-entry, we will already have the DD214/NGB22 or it’s equivalent on file. If the veteran is not pre-registered, we will then need the appropriate discharge for the veteran or eligible dependent / spouse if the veteran is still surviving.
- In the event the burial transit is out of state or we have a disinterment / re-interment form, please keep in mind we do need: social security number, point of contact (name, address, and phone number), date of birth, date of death, and father and mother’s names. This information is required to order the headstone.
- Preferably email the obituary to us if you have the capability.
- The $305 headstone fee is required if we are interring a National Guard soldier with less than 20 years of service in. This would also apply to the National Guard Soldiers spouse / eligible dependent.
[Back to Top]
Shell Polishing
We now have a tumbler that polishes the shells when a veteran has military funeral honors (MFH). If the family wishes, please provide us with the shells and we will polish and mail them to the family. The polishing does take one day to do and we try to mail them out the following day.
[Back to Top]
Presidential Memorial Certificate
We will be ordering a presidential memorial certificate (PMC) for all veterans the day of the service. A PMC is a paper certificate engraved with the late veteran's name and signed by the current president. This does take 45 to 60 days for the family to receive. We will be using the point of contact listed on the burial transit to sent it to.
[Back to Top]
Military Funeral Honors
Active duty and retirees are entitled to full honors that can be provided by the active military components. For example, a 20-year retiree from the Air Force is entitled to full honors that can be provided by the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases. An active duty or 20-year retiree from the National Guard is also eligible for full honors that can be supported by the North Dakota National Guard. In any case, if an active component is involved, they are authorized to travel to where ever the funeral may be.
Any retirees participating in military funeral honors for a veteran are entitled to receive compensation for travel and a $50 stipend. If you have any retires involved within your community, please have them contact the military funeral honors coordinator at the North Dakota Veteran Cemetery.
Please take time to visit the military funeral honors website. The website has useful information on the military funeral honors (MFH) program.
For additional information or questions on eligibility, stipends etc. Please contact the military funeral honors operations coordinator located at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.
[Back to Top]