Preparing for Burial

Veterans, spouses, and their eligible dependents may be interred at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery System (MVCS).  The State of Maine provides the plot, will open and close the grave and supplies perpetual care, at no cost to the family.  Eligible dependents will be buried (or inurned) adjacent to or in the same plot as the veteran. The Federal Government supplies the stone at no cost.

Persons eligible for burial in one of Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemeteries are as follows:

(1) "Eligible dependent" means:

• (a) The spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran even if that veteran
  is not buried or memorialized in the cemetery system or the surviving spouse
  of a member of the United States Armed Forces whose remains are
  unavailable for burial;


• (b) The surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who had a subsequent
  remarriage to a person who is not a veteran when the surviving spouse's death
  occurred on or after January 1, 2000;


• (c) A minor child of an eligible veteran. For purposes of this division, a
  minor child is a child who is unmarried and:
  
  1. (i) Has not attained 21 years of age; or
     
  2. (ii) Has not attained 23 years of age and is pursuing a full-time course of
     instruction at an educational institution offering an accredited
     postsecondary educational degree program; and
  
  
• (d) An unmarried adult child of an eligible veteran if that child became
  permanently physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support:
  
  1. (i) Before attaining 21 years of age; or
     
  2. (ii) Before attaining 23 years of age if supporting documentation exists
     that the adult child was pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an
     educational institution offering an accredited postsecondary educational
     degree program.

(2) "Eligible veteran" means any person who:

• (a) Served in the active United States Armed Forces and who:
  1. (i) If discharged, received an honorable discharge or a general discharge
     under honorable conditions, as long as the discharge was
     not upgraded through a program of general amnesty; and
  2. (ii) If having served as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980 or as
     an officer after October 16, 1981, served for a minimum of 24 continuous
     months or the full period for which the person was called to active duty.
  
  
• (b) Served in the Maine National Guard and died as a result of injury,
  disease or illness sustained while serving on active state service;


• (c) Served in the Reserve Components of the United States Armed Forces
  and was entitled to retired pay under 10 United States Code, chapter 1223,
  section 12731 or would have been entitled to retired pay under chapter 1223,
  section 12731 except that the person was under 60 years of age; or


• (d) Died while serving in the Active Guard Reserve and whose death is
  determined to be in the line of duty.