Veteran services at Heald Funeral Home
Veteran families in Saint Albans, VT can turn to Heald Funeral Home for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Heald Funeral Home provides extensive services for veterans, including specialized funeral and cremation options. They host an annual appreciation luncheon for the St. Albans military honor guard, which includes members from American Legion Green Mountain Post #1 and Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 758. Several staff members, such as owner Rett Heald and Funeral Director Lucien Hayes, are part of the D-Mort Disaster Team for New England, offering specialized support during national disasters. The funeral home also assists families with honoring veterans and navigating related benefits." On-site amenities include main chapel, chapel b, and parking lot, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, veteran services, green burials, and green cremation - alkaline hydrolysis. 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 main chapel and chapel b. 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 Heald Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,740. That places direct cremation roughly 27% above the Vermont median ($2,155). 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 Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in VT, approximately 64 miles from Heald Funeral Home. Heald Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Vermont has approximately 71 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Heald Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Heald Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,740. 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 Heald Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Heald Funeral Home is located at 87 South Main St. in Saint Albans, VT. You can reach the home at (802) 524-3031. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Heald Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Heald Funeral Home provides funeral services, cremation services, online planning, personalization, veteran services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Heald Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Heald Funeral Home provides extensive services for veterans, including specialized funeral and cremation options. They host an annual appreciation luncheon for the St. Albans military honor guard, which includes members from American Legion Green Mountain Post #1 and Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 758. Several staff members, such as owner Rett Heald and Funeral Director Lucien Hayes, are part of the D-Mort Disaster Team for New England, offering specialized support during national disasters. The funeral home also assists families with honoring veterans and navigating related benefits.
Which faith traditions does Heald Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Christian families, among others.
What sets Heald Funeral Home apart
- Fourth-generation family-operated business, established in 1918.
- Offers specialized green burial and green cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) services, certified by the Green Burial Council.
- Located in a historic building (built 1820) with modern, handicapped-accessible facilities.
- Hosts an annual appreciation luncheon for the St. Albans military honor guard, demonstrating strong veteran support.
- Staff members are involved with the D-Mort Disaster Team for New England, providing expertise in disaster victim identification and family support.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Green Burials
Cremation
- · Cremation Services
- · Green Cremation - Alkaline Hydrolysis
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Green Burial Council
- · Vermont Funeral Directors Association
- · National Funeral Directors Association
- · D-Mort Disaster Team for New England
- · Selected Independent Funeral Homes
Specializations
- · Green Burial
- · Green Cremation - Alkaline Hydrolysis
- · Veteran Services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Christian. 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.