Gallagher Funeral Service

Veteran services at Gallagher Funeral Service

Gallagher Funeral Service serves veteran families in Elmhurst, NY with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Gerard J. Neufeld, Inc. provides comprehensive support for veterans' services, including arranging Military Funeral Honors (MFH). These honors typically consist of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veteran's family and the playing of Taps, performed by at least two members of the Armed Forces. Eligibility extends to active duty members, Selected Reserve members, and former military members with honorable discharges. The funeral home assists families in establishing eligibility, primarily through the DD Form 214, and can help obtain necessary documentation from the National Personnel Records Center. They also clarify eligibility for members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,200 for basic burial and $1,808 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include memorial service, burial, cremation, veterans services, 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 Gallagher Funeral Service: direct cremation from $1,400. That places direct cremation roughly 39% below the New York 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 St. Albans National Cemetery in NY, approximately 7 miles from Gallagher Funeral Service. Gallagher Funeral Service can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

New York has approximately 1,440 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Gallagher Funeral Service is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Gallagher Funeral Service apart

• Personalized service approach, guiding families through decisions for a lasting tribute.
• Extensive online resources, including a detailed FAQ section addressing common concerns about funeral planning, costs, and etiquette.
• Dedicated 'Veterans Overview' section providing specific information on military funeral honors and eligibility.
• Year-long daily grief support messages available via email, in addition to links to external grief resources.
• Offers live-streamed visitation and funeral mass events for some services, as seen in recent obituaries.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Roman Catholic, All Faiths (accommodated via partner cemeteries/crematories). Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish, Chinese.

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.