No Michigan State Veterans Cemetery — But There Is a County Burial Payment
Michigan operates no state veterans cemetery. The Veterans Affairs Agency’s own burial guidance routes families to the National Cemetery Administration and names four federal cemeteries in the state. That is not the whole picture for money: a $300 burial expense is paid at COUNTY level, documented on the agency's own benefits pages and covered by its own record here.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
Michigan operates no state veterans cemetery. The Veterans Affairs Agency’s own burial guidance routes families to the National Cemetery Administration and names four federal cemeteries in the state. That is not the whole picture for money: a $300 burial expense is paid at COUNTY level, documented on the agency's own benefits pages and covered by its own record here.
What it's worth: Nothing to claim from the State — the gravesite, marker and flag come from the federal system
- There is no state veterans cemetery. Burial itself runs through the National Cemetery Administration, and the agency names four federal cemeteries in Michigan.
- A $300 burial expense is payable by the county. See mi-county-300-burial-expense — it is documented on the veterans agency's own benefits pages, not merely a local practice.
- So the right advice is not 'do not budget on a payment' but 'ask the county, and know the figure before you do'.
Who is entitled to it
- You are the veteran, or a family member planning ahead.
- Your home is in Michigan.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
- 1Find the discharge paperwork now, not at need. Michigan National Guard records (NGB22) are held by the Guard on 517-481-8331; reserve records (DD256) sit with the National Personnel Records Center on 314-801-0800; for anything else the Agency directs you to 800-642-4838 or its online request.
- 2To schedule a burial, call 1-800-535-1117 and send the DD214 and supporting discharge documents by fax to 866-900-6417 or by email to NCA.Scheduling@va.gov, then follow up by phone.
- 3The four national cemeteries the Agency names in Michigan are Great Lakes National Cemetery at Holly, Fort Custer National Cemetery at Augusta, Lakeside Cemetery at Port Huron and Fort Mackinac Cemetery on Mackinac Island.
- 4Make an appointment with a County Veterans Service Officer for the reimbursement side — a government marker or medallion, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, burial reimbursement, survivor pension or dependency and indemnity compensation are all federal claims someone has to file.
- 5Take the DD214, the death certificate, itemised burial expenses, proof of relationship and, if a pension is in play, proof of income to that appointment.
- 6Do not budget on a Michigan burial payment. If a county in your area operates a burial allowance, ask the county directly — the State does not publish one on this page.
- File with
- Nothing to claim from the State — the National Cemetery Administration schedules the burial
- Documents you will need
- dd214 · death certificate
- No renewal
- Once granted it does not need renewing.
Sources
- authority · published policyMichigan Veterans Affairs Agency — Burial Benefits and Resources
Why only one source type: The Agency’s burial page is the State’s own statement of what burial help exists for a Michigan veteran, and everything it names is federal. An absence is established by the administering agency saying nothing else exists, which is what this page does.
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.