McFarland Funeral Chapel

Veteran services at McFarland Funeral Chapel

For veterans in Tryon, NC, McFarland Funeral Chapel coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "McFarland Funeral Chapel provides specialized services for veterans, coordinating closely with the Western North Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain and the Polk County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard to ensure appropriate provisions and commemorations for service members." On-site amenities include chapel (seats 235 guests) and reception hall, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,495 for basic burial and $3,005 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, memorial service, and green 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 chapel (seats 235 guests). 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 McFarland Funeral Chapel: direct cremation from $3,005. That places direct cremation roughly 62% above the North Carolina median ($1,850). 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 Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in NC, approximately 29 miles from McFarland Funeral Chapel. McFarland Funeral Chapel can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

North Carolina has approximately 845 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. McFarland Funeral Chapel is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets McFarland Funeral Chapel apart

• Established in 1911 by Frank K. McFarland, Sr., the first licensed embalmer in Polk County, North Carolina.
• Features one of the first on-site crematories in western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina, ensuring loved ones remain in their direct care.
• Owns and operates Polk Memorial Gardens, the only perpetual care cemetery in Polk County.
• Provides a Williamsburg-style, handicap-accessible facility with a chapel seating 235 guests and partitionable visitation rooms.
• Demonstrates strong community involvement through initiatives like co-sponsoring school lunches, supporting Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, and organizing pet food drives for Foothills Humane Society.
• Offers specialized veteran services, coordinating with the Western North Carolina State Veterans Cemetery and Polk County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Lutheran. Languages spoken at the home: English.

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.