Veteran services at Durst Funeral Home
Durst Funeral Home serves veteran families in Frostburg, MD with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Durst Funeral Home provides comprehensive support for veterans and their families, assisting with the completion of necessary forms to secure benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. These benefits include VA burial allowances, memorial items, and military funeral honors. Military funeral honors typically involve the playing of “Taps,” a rifle detail, a color guard, and the presentation of the United States flag to the deceased's next of kin. Eligibility for VA burial benefits extends to veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge, service members who died while on active duty, and their spouses or minor children. The funeral home also helps families apply for non-service-connected burial allowances within two years of burial or cremation, with no time limit for service-connected allowances. They also assist with requesting headstones, grave markers, or niche markers from the VA." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,750 for basic burial and $2,200 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, veterans services, memorial service, and graveside service. 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.
Published pricing at Durst Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,670. That places direct cremation roughly 16% above the Maryland median ($2,300). 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 Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery in MD, approximately 16 miles from Durst Funeral Home. Durst Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Maryland has approximately 313 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Durst Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Durst Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,670. 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 Durst Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Durst Funeral Home is located at 57 Frost Ave. in Frostburg, MD. You can reach the home at (301) 689-8833. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Durst Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Durst Funeral Home provides traditional funeral services, cremation services, preplanning services, shipping remains, veterans services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Durst Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Durst Funeral Home provides comprehensive support for veterans and their families, assisting with the completion of necessary forms to secure benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. These benefits include VA burial allowances, memorial items, and military funeral honors. Military funeral honors typically involve the playing of “Taps,” a rifle detail, a color guard, and the presentation of the United States flag to the deceased's next of kin. Eligibility for VA burial benefits extends to veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge, service members who died while on active duty, and their spouses or minor children. The funeral home also helps families apply for non-service-connected burial allowances within two years of burial or cremation, with no time limit for service-connected allowances. They also assist with requesting headstones, grave markers, or niche markers from the VA.
Which faith traditions does Durst Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Catholic, Protestant (general) families, among others.
What sets Durst Funeral Home apart
- Five generations of continuous family ownership and operation since 1904.
- Preplanning services with the option to prepay and 'lock-in' prices.
- Specialized assistance for veterans, including navigating VA burial benefits and military funeral honors.
- Comprehensive personalization options for services, such as tribute videos, keepsakes, and live streaming.
- Capability to handle shipping of remains to and from distant, including overseas, locations.
- Offers a final expense life insurance plan with guaranteed premiums and an option for irrevocable assignment to the 'LCBA Memorial Trust'.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Graveside Service
Cremation
- · Cremation Services
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · LCBA Memorial Trust
Specializations
- · Final Expense Life Insurance
- · Prepayment Options
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Catholic, Protestant (general). Languages spoken at the home: English.
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.