G.A.R. Cemetery
Grand Army of the Republic
Owned by Earl Winehart Post No. 96 of the American Legion
360-568-4090 8601 Riverview Rd. Snohomish WA www.garcemetery.com
The following are frequently asked questions concerning Post 96 member benefits at G.A.R. Cemetery:
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Who is eligible?
Any veteran who is a current regular Earl Winehart Post 96-member (not social or SAL) with at least five (5) years’ consecutive membership is eligible for a free full size grave space or cremation lot at the base price at the time of death. Currently, the base price for a full-size grave space is $1750 and a cremation lot is $1250. The base price can also be credited towards a more expensive plot in another area of the Cemetery. The base price can also be used towards a niche in the Columbarium. This benefit can be claimed by the surviving spouse or representative following the death of the eligible veteran. Proof of eligibility will be required; these include a current Post 96 membership card and a letter from the current Post Adjutant confirming the minimum membership requirement.
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2. What other charges are involved?
You will still need to pay for the normal burial charges at the Cemetery, plus at the time of selection you will need to pay 10% of the normal cost of this space which the State requires goes to the G.A.R.Cemetery Endowment Fund. For example, if the normal cost of the space is $1750, you will be paying $175 plus interment costs for the price at the time of need.
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3. Are my spouse or siblings eligible for their own free space?
No, this benefit is only for the Veteran himself, a full-size lot for a wife or sibling would be subject to the full Cemetery price, however in the case of cremation, a spouse or other family member can be added to the lot or Columbarium.
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4. Can I use my benefit to choose a burial space or lot before my death?
Yes, an eligible veteran with 50 or more years of membership in the American Legion may reserve a plot with no fee. Other eligible veterans must pay a $500 deposit to reserve a space or lot. At the time of internment, any reservation fee paid is applied in full to other interment costs incurred (see Question #2). The reservation sunsets every 10 years and it is the responsibility of the eligible veteran to provide a written reverification for the reservation to remain in place. There is no fee for reverification, but in the absence of reverification the reservation will be voided, and the deposit contributed to the Endowment Fund. Contact the Cemetery Manager for more information on this process.
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5. Are there any benefits from the Veterans Administration?
Yes, as a veteran you are eligible for a burial flag and a veteran marker or headstone at no cost. This headstone will be subject to a setting fee at the Cemetery plus any additional costs of granite or the cement foundation that a bronze marker will require. Also, certain veterans, those with a service-connected disabilities, or collecting a pension from the VA are sometimes eligible for a burial benefit, which would need to be applied for by the surviving spouse.
These are the most frequently asked questions concerning the G.A.R. Cemetery. For more information, please visit our website or call the Cemetery office at 360-568-4090.
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Note that all veterans are eligible to be buried at no cost to the family at the
Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent Washington.
version 1/1/23