The Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake helps veterans and their families through one of life’s most challenging times while honoring their military service and sacrifice. Knowledgeable cemetery staff guide veterans and families through the process of preregistering for cemetery services and work with families after a death occurs. The facility serves eligible veterans and their families regardless of state of residency, and determines eligibility based on established Federal VA National Cemetery Administration criteria.
Federal law provides eligibility for burial in a state or national cemetery to veterans who have met minimum active duty service requirements as applicable by law and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Members of the reserve component of the armed forces are also eligible, provided they died while on active duty under certain circumstances, or while performing training duty; have 20 years if service creditable for retired pay; or were called to active duty and served the full term of service and have met characterization of discharge requirements. Family member eligibility is determined based on the veteran’s military service meeting eligibility criteria. The veteran does not have to be interred at this facility for a qualifying spouse to be interred at the State Veterans Cemetery.
The cemetery offers preneed planning services, giving veterans and eligible family members the peace of mind that they’ve satisfied eligibility criteria, knowing their end-of-life needs will be met without burdening their families. The prenneed eligibility determination process is non-binding and does not obligate the family to use the State Veterans Cemetery should life situations and end-of-life plans change.
There are no charges for veteran interments, which includes an interment plot, government headstone or memorial marker, use of a committal shelter for interment services and perpetual care of the grounds as a national shrine. The cemetery recovers a cost of $300 at the time of interment for family member interments.
The 120-acre Washington State Veterans Cemetery opened in 2010 through federal grants totaling $11 million for capital development from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This facility makes the federal Va burial benefit more accessible to veterans in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. In the coming years, WDVA will continue to expand burial areas incorporating additional public spaces and maintenance facilities. Additionally, WDVA is committed to developing a second state veterans cemetery in central or southeastern Washington to better serve veterans across this region.
Since opening, the site is a final resting place for over 5,200 veterans and family members. The cemetery offers traditional casket burials as well as options for cremation inurnments; in-ground burial, a columbarium wall for above ground placement, as well as a scattering garden. All inurnment options include a personalized granite marker to memorize veterans and their family members. Families are invited to use the committal shelter for memorial services including full military honors for veterans. Military honors is a statutory entitlement for qualifying veterans which includes playing of taps and presentation of a burial flag to the veteran’s next-of-kin. The cemetery does not provide graveside services for safety concerns. We are also fortunate to have the assistance of a team of over 100 volunteers who assist with a wide range of supportive services. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact the cemetery directly for additional information.
The Washington State Veterans Cemetery grounds are open to the public 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to sunset. Interments are conducted Monday through Friday and are scheduled by contacting the cemetery staff. Additional information and pre-registration forms are available online at dva.wa.gov/cemetery or by calling (509) 299-6280.