Smart & Edwards Funeral Home

Veteran services at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home

Veteran families in Skowhegan, ME can turn to Smart & Edwards Funeral Home for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Somerset Valley Remembrance Center assists veterans and their families with understanding eligibility for burial benefits, financial assistance for certain burial costs, tributes during funeral or memorial services, and special memorial keepsakes like the United States burial flag. Eligibility is primarily verified through the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) or alternative honorable discharge documents. The center helps families apply for burial flags for eligible veterans who served during wartime, on active duty after May 27, 1941, after January 31, 1955, or in peacetime with specific discharge conditions."

Veteran-related services offered include cremation and burial services. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

Published pricing at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home: direct cremation from $3,370. That places direct cremation roughly 43% above the Maine median ($2,350). 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 Central Maine Veterans Cemetery - Mt. Vernon Rd in ME, approximately 29 miles from Smart & Edwards Funeral Home. Smart & Edwards Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Maine has approximately 133 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Smart & Edwards Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $3,370. 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 Smart & Edwards Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Smart & Edwards Funeral Home is located at 183 Madison Avenue in Skowhegan, ME. You can reach the home at (207) 474-3357. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Smart & Edwards Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Smart & Edwards Funeral Home provides cremation, funeral, preplan, burial services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Smart & Edwards Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Somerset Valley Remembrance Center assists veterans and their families with understanding eligibility for burial benefits, financial assistance for certain burial costs, tributes during funeral or memorial services, and special memorial keepsakes like the United States burial flag. Eligibility is primarily verified through the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) or alternative honorable discharge documents. The center helps families apply for burial flags for eligible veterans who served during wartime, on active duty after May 27, 1941, after January 31, 1955, or in peacetime with specific discharge conditions.

What sets Smart & Edwards Funeral Home apart

Carries forward a legacy of over two centuries of family-operated funeral service in Maine, uniting the traditions of the Adams and Edwards families.
Offers comprehensive 'Before, During & After' support, including extensive aftercare assistance for navigating estate matters, benefits, and grief support.
Provides specialized assistance with Veterans Benefits, including eligibility verification and securing burial flags and other tributes.
Emphasizes personalized services, encouraging families to incorporate unique aspects of their loved one's life into ceremonies.
Available 24/7 for immediate assistance, ensuring support is accessible at all times.

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Burial Services

Cremation

· Cremation

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Crematory
· Funeral Home
· Mortuary

Specializations

· Veterans Benefits
· Grief Support
· After Care

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.