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VeteranFunerals

Funeral home with veteran services

Costner Funeral Home

2425 West Franklin Boulevard · Gastonia, NC 28052

Call (704) 864-6787Website ↗

Full listing, prices and reviews: Costner Funeral Home on FuneralUS

Veterans Military Honors

Veteran Services

From the home's own description

“Costner Funeral Home provides comprehensive veteran services, acknowledging the devotion of military members to the nation. They assist families with completing applications for all veteran benefits, including Military Honors, Presidential Memorial Certificates, and veteran memorial markers or headstones. The funeral home also coordinates any existing paid pre-plan funding benefits that may cover expenses not deemed eligible by the Veterans Administration. They help coordinate necessary documentation to request honors and work with national or state veterans' cemeteries. Services for veterans include professional services of a Funeral Director and support staff, transfer of the deceased, professional care, cremation services, use of mortuary facilities for visitation or gathering, funeral or memorial ceremonies, use of automotive equipment, and online interactive memorial websites. Eligibility for these services generally requires the veteran to have been honorably discharged, including active duty members, Selected Reserve members, and former members discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or due to a service-incurred disability.”

Veteran services at Costner Funeral Home

Costner Funeral Home serves veteran families in Gastonia, NC with military funeral planning. In its own description, the home mentions military funeral honors, VA benefits paperwork, veterans cemetery burial, and government headstones. On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,145 for basic burial and $1,595 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

The home lists these veteran-related services: burial preparation, direct burial, direct cremation, memorial services, and veteran services. Ask the director which of them they arrange directly.

Facilities on site include chapel.

Published pricing at Costner Funeral Home: direct cremation from $1,595. That places direct cremation roughly 14% below the North Carolina median ($1,850). If the veteran qualifies for a VA burial allowance, the family claims it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. Ask whether the home will help you file it.

The nearest veterans cemetery that isn't listed as closed is Salisbury National Cemetery Annex in NC, about 51 miles from Costner Funeral Home. For a burial in a VA national cemetery, the funeral home or the family calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.

We list about 845 funeral homes in North Carolina. Only some of them name military funeral honors or VA benefits help among their services.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Costner Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $1,595. 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 Costner Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Costner Funeral Home is located at 2425 West Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, NC. You can reach the home at (704) 864-6787. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Costner Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Costner Funeral Home provides traditional funeral services, burial preparation, visitation, funeral ceremony, transportation services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Costner Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

In its own description of its veteran services, Costner Funeral Home mentions military funeral honors, VA benefits paperwork, veterans cemetery burial, and government headstones. Ask the home how VA burial benefits apply to your family.

What sets Costner Funeral Home apart

  • Fourth-generation family-owned and operated business since 1939, with direct family involvement in daily operations.
  • Deep historical ties and dedicated service to Gastonia's predominantly Black Highland community, with plans to build a new facility on Highland Street to return to the community's fringe.
  • Founder Charles W. Costner, Sr.'s unique background as a building contractor who crafted burial caskets before establishing the funeral home.
  • Specialized services for veterans, including assistance with military honors, benefits applications, and coordination with veterans' cemeteries.
  • Commitment to pre-planning services to ease the burden on families and ensure personal wishes are honored.

Military and veteran services listed

★Memorial Services
★Veteran Services

Burial and cremation services

Burial

  • · Burial Preparation
  • · Direct Burial

Cremation

  • · Direct Cremation

On-site facilities

· Visitation Facilities
· Mortuary Facilities
· Chapel

Affiliations and specialties

Industry affiliations

  • · Funeral Directors & Morticians Association of North Carolina, Inc.
  • · Excelsior Credit Union

Specialties

  • · Veteran Services
  • · Serving The Black Community

How to request military funeral honors

By law (10 U.S.C. § 1491), an eligible veteran's funeral can include, on request, an honors detail of at least two service members who fold and present the U.S. flag to the family and play Taps. The funeral director usually makes the request and will need the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers.

VA suggests asking at least 48 to 72 hours before the service. More on what honors include and how to request them.