For veterans and their families
Families reaching this page usually need one of three things: an overview of the VA burial and cremation allowance, an understanding of how the Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery works day-to-day, or clarity on the free government headstone available to eligible veterans and, in many cases, their spouses.
Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 23, most honorably discharged veterans qualify for a burial allowance, a plot allowance if interment is outside a national cemetery, and — separately — a government-furnished headstone or marker. The dollar amounts vary depending on whether the death was service-connected and whether the veteran was receiving VA compensation at the time of death. The paperwork trail (DD-214, VA Form 40-1330 for the headstone, VA Form 21P-530EZ for the burial allowance) is the same whether the family chooses direct cremation, memorial cremation with the urn present at a chapel service, or a traditional funeral with committal at a national cemetery.
Vargas-London coordinates directly with the Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery in Grand Prairie for eligible veterans, spouses, and dependent children. Carlos Vargas, Texas Licensed Funeral Director (TFSC #119648), handles the family conference, cemetery scheduling, and VA paperwork so families are not driving to multiple offices during the week of a funeral. When a state benefit or the Presidential Memorial Certificate applies, we prepare those requests as well.
Related articles
- Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery: A Family Guide to Burial and Cremation Options — scheduling a committal service in Grand Prairie, columbarium vs. in-ground interment, and what to expect on the day.
- Headstone and Monument Options in DFW (and the VA Free Headstone for Veterans) — the government-furnished marker, upright headstones, flat markers, niche covers, and when a private monument is a better fit.
Related pillars
- Veteran services overview — how Vargas-London supports veteran families end to end.
- Veteran benefits reference — a plain-language walk through of the federal and state benefits families can claim.
- Direct cremation ($1,750) and memorial cremation ($4,995) — the two most common paths for veteran families choosing cremation.
- Traditional funeral ($6,350) — for families choosing a chapel service and a committal at the national cemetery.
- Frequently asked questions and your Funeral Rule rights — general references that apply to every family.