Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend

Veteran services at Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend

For veterans in Fort Stockton, TX, Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend offers a 32-page American Veterans’ Guide to VA Funeral, Burial, & Memorial Benefits. This resource provides detailed information on funeral, cremation, memorial, and burial assistance, eligibility, application processes, required documents (like DD-214), military honors (burial flags, ceremonies, headstones), burial at sea, private cemetery options, and how to obtain military medals and certificates. The guide also explains the VA claims process, including the 'duty to assist' standard and the 'benefit of the doubt' for veterans." On-site amenities include on-site chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $6,135 for basic burial and $3,095 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include cremation and burial. 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 on-site 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 Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend: direct cremation from $3,095. That places direct cremation roughly 55% above the Texas median ($1,995). 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 Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene in TX, approximately 218 miles from Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend. Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Texas has approximately 1,496 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $3,095. 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 Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend is located at 301 North Main Street in Fort Stockton, TX. You can reach the home at (432) 336-3939. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend offer veteran families?

Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend provides funeral arrangements, pre-arrangements, monuments, send flowers, pre-planning, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend offers a 32-page American Veterans’ Guide to VA Funeral, Burial, & Memorial Benefits. This resource provides detailed information on funeral, cremation, memorial, and burial assistance, eligibility, application processes, required documents (like DD-214), military honors (burial flags, ceremonies, headstones), burial at sea, private cemetery options, and how to obtain military medals and certificates. The guide also explains the VA claims process, including the 'duty to assist' standard and the 'benefit of the doubt' for veterans.

Which faith traditions does Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal families, among others.

What sets Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend apart

Offers a one-year subscription to daily grief support emails.
Provides a comprehensive 32-page American Veterans’ Guide to VA Funeral, Burial, & Memorial Benefits.
Features an 'Ask The Director' resource library with articles, decision guides, and podcasts.
Creates personalized online memorials and tribute videos from family photographs.
Facilitates pre-approval of cremation authorization with preneed plans to ease family burden.

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Burial

Cremation

· Cremation

On-site facilities

· On-site Chapel

Affiliations & specializations

Specializations

· Veterans Services

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal.

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 Settlement

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.