Honoring and thanking veterans for their service through military funeral honors and veteran’s benefits is an important duty for Dahl Funeral and Cremation Service funeral directors. Dahl employees acknowledge the sacrifice, patriotism and willingness to protect others shown by those who serve our country by helping their families access the benefits available to them and to plan a funeral service fitting for a veteran. Whether a veteran or their family wishes to bury them in an official Veterans Cemetery or in a privately owned cemetery, Dahl owner Charlie Fisher said their staff is ready to help. “It's about honoring their service to our country and honoring the veterans,” Fisher said. “It’s important to us to go above and beyond for those who sacrificed for their country.” Dahl can help arrange an honor guard including members of the military branch in which a veteran served. Veterans who participate in that honor guard often find it to be incredibly powerful, showing the lifelong impact serving in the military can have. Local veterans groups like the American Legion help with military honors at funerals. “Veterans who participate in an honor guard - it’s very important to them,” Fisher said. “It's a continuum of honoring the person being buried and knowing that - someday it'll be me.” Veterans are also eligible for certain funeral benefits that can help defray the cost of services. In Montana, veterans are eligible for $500 to help pay for funeral costs. There can be a lot of forms to fill out after a loved one passes, but Fisher said they help families apply for those funds and help them fill out the paperwork to receive a burial flag, veteran’s grave marker and file for state veteran’s benefits. Dahl staff can also point them in the right direction for additional benefits provided by the federal government. A veteran's discharge papers will be needed to verify eligibility and apply for veteran’s benefits. The veteran’s discharge papers are normally referred to as a “DD 214”. Military funeral honors include a rifle detail to fire the 21-gun salute, playing of taps, a color guard and uniformed service members who properly fold and present the United States flag to the grieving family. Fisher said the ceremony can be a really meaningful experience. Most of the time, veterans or their families will opt into having funeral honors when they are planning a service. “The service where they fire the rifle volley, play Taps, fold the flag and present it to the family it's just a really nice send off from the military for the veterans,” Fisher said. “It can be really meaningful for the family members who also served their country alongside their veteran.” For veterans who will be buried, they may be eligible for a headstone from the VA. The VA will pay for costs if a veteran will be buried in a VA cemetery. The closest veteran’s cemetery is in Helena at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery - Fort Harrison, but there is also a veteran’s section at Bozeman’s Sunset Hills Cemetery in which plots may be purchased by the veteran or their family. There are a lot of decisions to be made in the days and weeks after a loved one passes, but Dahl is right there to help families figure out how to get the benefits for which they are eligible. “There is no greater honor for us than serving those who have served our country,” Fisher said. “We want to be there and help you get the benefits you deserve and provide a service worthy of a veteran.” More information on Veterans services Dahl provides can be found at www.dahlcares.com/veterans-services .