Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home

Veteran services at Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home

For veterans in Louisville, KY, Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home provides extensive services for veterans, including traditional military funeral honors such as flag folding, the playing of Taps, flag-draped caskets, three-volley rifle salutes, and final salutes at the gravesite. They assist families in contacting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to access benefits like headstones, Presidential Memorial Certificates, memorial plots, burial in national cemeteries, and information regarding burial reimbursement. Additionally, for veterans choosing cremation, the funeral home offers a unique Dignified Flag Retirement Program, which includes draping the veteran with an unserviceable U.S. flag and presenting the family with a Certificate of Last Deed of Service and a symbolic star swatch." On-site amenities include customer parking, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,795 for basic burial and $2,685 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

On-site facilities of note include space for funeral/memorial services. 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 Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,495. That places direct cremation roughly 25% above the Kentucky 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 New Albany National Cemetery in IN, approximately 16 miles from Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home. Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Kentucky has approximately 552 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home apart

• Family-owned and operated, now in its fifth generation of service, with a history dating back nearly 150 years.
• Operates two distinct locations in Louisville: St. Matthews (3711 Lexington Road) and East Louisville (12900 Shelbyville Road).
• Offers a specialized Dignified Flag Retirement Program for veterans choosing cremation, which includes a Certificate of Last Deed of Service and a symbolic star swatch.
• Provides comprehensive assistance with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, including headstones, Presidential Memorial Certificates, memorial plots, and burial in national cemeteries.
• Facilitates online payment options, including credit card and eChecks, and assists with utilizing life insurance policies for funeral expenses.

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Methodist, Christian (General).

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.