Veteran services at Akard Funeral Home
Akard Funeral Home serves veteran families in Bristol, TN with military funeral planning. The home assists with VA paperwork, honor-guard requests, and scheduling at veterans cemeteries. Published pricing lists a quoted rate for basic burial and $3,170 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Published pricing at Akard Funeral Home: direct cremation from $3,170. That places direct cremation roughly 70% above the Tennessee median ($1,865). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Mountain Home National Cemetery Annex in TN, approximately 22 miles from Akard Funeral Home. Akard Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Akard Funeral Home also accommodates Jewish traditions for veterans whose religious or cultural observance shapes the service. Military honors can be integrated into the family's tradition with no conflict — the honor detail observes the family's pace.
Tennessee has approximately 641 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Akard Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Akard Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $3,170. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.
Where is Akard Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Akard Funeral Home is located at 1912 West State Street in Bristol, TN. You can reach the home at (423) 989-4800. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
Does Akard Funeral Home offer cremation for veterans?
Yes. Direct cremation at Akard Funeral Home starts at $3,170. Cremated veterans remain eligible for inurnment in a VA national cemetery.
Does Akard Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Akard Funeral Home assists veteran families with VA burial benefits, military funeral honors, and coordination with national and state veterans cemeteries. Eligible veterans may receive a burial allowance and a free government headstone.
EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral
The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.
Begin Veteran Estate SettlementHow honors are coordinated
Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.
For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.