Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center

Veteran services at Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center

Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center serves veteran families in Hot Springs, AR with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Caruth-Hale Funeral Home provides comprehensive veteran funeral services, including coordinating military funeral honors, flag presentation to the next of kin, playing of Taps, and a three-volley rifle salute. They assist families in determining eligibility based on DD-214 or discharge papers and help navigate available veteran burial and death benefits." On-site amenities include reception areas and chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,795 for basic burial and $2,295 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include traditional burial, immediate burial, graveside burial service, green burial, cremation, and direct cremation. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock in AR, approximately 55 miles from Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center. Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Arkansas has approximately 385 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center apart

• Personalized services designed as a "museum of your loved one's life," incorporating personal items and interests into the service.
• Recipient of the National Funeral Directors Association's Hall of Excellence award (2006) and a Leadership and Excellence Award from The Leaders Network (2004).
• On-site crematory at the main Hot Springs facility, ensuring loved ones remain in their care.
• Staff primarily recruited from outside the funeral industry, chosen for their compassionate approach and diverse professional backgrounds.
• Commitment to not charging by the day, allowing families ample time for planning and healing.
• Offers a unique "Tree of Remembrance Service" to support families during the holidays.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

How 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.