VA National Cemeteries
Fort Devens Post Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility
Devens, Massachusetts · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: Fort Devens Post Cemetery.
You can look up burials at Fort Devens Post Cemetery on VA's daily burial schedule, which lists the committal services families have agreed to publish. Veterans who were not dishonorably discharged can be buried here, and so can their spouses and some dependent children. To schedule a burial, you or the funeral director call VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. VA lists Fort Devens Post Cemetery as closed to new burials, so ask the scheduling office whether an existing family gravesite can be used.
History of Fort Devens Post Cemetery
The Fort Devens Post Cemetery, when it was originally established on the grounds of Camp Devens in 1931, was originally called the Malvern Hill Cemetery. Since that time, the Fort Devens Cemetery (present location established 1938) has developed a rich and colorful history. Its past provides a glimpse into the life and times of soldiers who fought in six of America’s wars, the War of 1812, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Visiting hours at Fort Devens Post Cemetery
Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Who can be buried at Fort Devens Post Cemetery?
VA national cemeteries accept a veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty or in training, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried), and minor or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children. National Guard and Reserve members qualify under narrower rules. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance; it does not reserve a gravesite.
What does burial here include at no cost?
- A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A government-provided burial liner
- A government-provided headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
Veterans also receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate (presented to the next of kin at the burial) and military funeral honors, which include the playing of Taps and two uniformed service members who present the flag. The committal service is held at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. National cemeteries have no viewing facilities, so the funeral itself is held elsewhere.
How do you schedule a burial at Fort Devens Post Cemetery?
- Gather the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers, and the deceased's details (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, relationship to the veteran).
- Fax the discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the deceased's name in the subject line.
- You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Fort Devens Post Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
VA lists Fort Devens Post Cemetery as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.
Where is the Fort Devens Post Cemetery burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Fort Devens Post Cemetery to see the committal services planned there. It only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them. To change or cancel a burial that's already scheduled, contact Fort Devens Post Cemetery directly at 508-563-7113.
Headstone, flag and burial allowance
- Government headstone or marker: tell the scheduling office which headstone, marker, niche cover or medallion you want when you schedule the burial.
- Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008.
- Burial allowance: For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot; for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the burial allowance is up to $2,000. Claim it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. All benefits
After the funeral: survivor benefits and the estate
A surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly VA benefit, for example when the death was service connected (VA Form 21P-534EZ). The veteran's estate is settled under Massachusetts law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Massachusetts and lists each county's probate court. For the rest of the paperwork, from Social Security to bank accounts, DeathUS has a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies.
Funeral homes near Fort Devens Post Cemetery
A funeral director usually arranges the burial with the cemetery. These are the closest funeral homes by straight-line distance. Each one links to its full listing on FuneralUS, our funeral home directory.
- Anderson Funeral Home - AyerRoute 2A, MA3.8 mi from the cemetery
- Simard Funeral HomeLeominster, MA6.3 mi from the cemetery
- Badger Funeral HomeLittleton, MA6.5 mi from the cemetery
- Badger Funeral Home of GrotonGroton, MA6.8 mi from the cemetery
- Wright-Roy Funeral HomeLeominster, MAMilitary honors services7.0 mi from the cemetery
- Silas F. Richardson & Son, Inc.Leominster, MA7.0 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at Fort Devens Post Cemetery
Is burial at Fort Devens Post Cemetery free?
Yes, for eligible veterans, spouses and dependent children. VA provides the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a burial liner, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care at no cost. The funeral home's services, such as transport and any service before the burial, are arranged and paid for separately.
Can I reserve a gravesite at Fort Devens Post Cemetery in advance?
No. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision before a death, but VA says the decision letter doesn't name a cemetery or gravesite, because neither can be reserved in advance.
How do I schedule a burial at Fort Devens Post Cemetery?
Fax the veteran's discharge papers to 866-900-6417 or email them to [email protected]. Then you or the funeral director call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET). National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
Where can I see the burial schedule for Fort Devens Post Cemetery?
On VA's daily burial schedule at https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/dailyburialschedule/. It covers every national cemetery, but it only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them.
Are military funeral honors provided at Fort Devens Post Cemetery?
Yes, if you ask for them. Your funeral director, a Veterans Service Organization or the cemetery staff can arrange them. At minimum, two uniformed service members fold and present the burial flag at the committal shelter, and Taps is played.
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