Arkansas State Veterans Cemeteries at North Little Rock and Birdeye

Free burial for an eligible veteran, with an $807 fee for a spouse or dependent, at the state veterans cemeteries in North Little Rock and Birdeye. The department's rule follows national cemetery eligibility, adds no residency test, and bars anyone convicted of a violent felony.

Also called: 20-81-112, state veterans cemetery, North Little Rock, Birdeye, $807, pre-eligibility, violent felony, Merchant Mariner, Hmong veterans.

For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

ArkansasState

The Department of Veterans Affairs operates two cemeteries: the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock, 1501 West Maryland Avenue, dedicated in 2001, and at Birdeye in Cross County, 3600 Highway 163, opened in 2012. Arkansas also has national cemeteries at Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Little Rock. Who is eligible. The department's burial rule under section 20-81-112 follows the national cemetery tests: a veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. 4211(4), a service member who died on active duty or training, Guard and reserve members who served out a federal call-up, were entitled to retired pay or died or were disabled in training, and the spouse, minor child or helpless adult child of an eligible veteran. It also lists U.S. citizens who served allied forces in wartime, ROTC members who died in training, NOAA and Public Health Service officers, World War II Merchant Mariners, Philippine and Hmong veterans. The rule has no Arkansas residency requirement. Who is barred. Former spouses whose marriage ended in divorce or annulment, family of a veteran convicted of subversive activity, and "Veterans or eligible family members who have been convicted of a violent felony offense". A discharge other than honorable is referred to VA to decide. What it costs. "No cost for veteran interment", and $807 for a spouse or qualified dependent, which covers the grave or columbarium niche, opening and closing, perpetual care and a government headstone. Section 20-81-112, subsection (b) lets the department charge a spouse or dependent no more than VA's interment allowance under 38 U.S.C. 2303(b)(1) "as existing on February 1, 2021", so the cap is frozen at that date. Vaults are included. Military funeral honors must be arranged by the funeral home or family; the cemetery does not arrange them. Graves are assigned in order and cannot be reserved. Plan ahead. The department encourages a pre-eligibility application with the DD 214 and, for a spouse, the marriage licence and a check for $807. Visiting. Artificial flowers are removed from April 15 to October 15, and permanent plantings, pictures and vigil lights are not allowed.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Arkansas State Veterans Cemeteries at North Little Rock and Birdeye
Gate	Rule
National cemetery eligibility with no Arkansas residency test	ADVA burial rule, sections V to VII, under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-81-112(c)(1).
No violent felony conviction	ADVA burial rule, section VIII(7).

Documents the source lists

What the official source lists for an application, and where to get each document. It is a reference read from the source, not a full list of what the office may ask for; check with the office or an accredited representative before you apply. Needed means the source asks for it; Helps means the source calls it optional or says it speeds things up.

Needed DD214 or other separation documents
Where to get it Download it from milConnect if your branch has it there, or request it from the National Archives. A VA application can ask VA to request it for you.
Listed by ADVA, veteran cemeteries read 2026-10-10
Needed Marriage certificate or license
If married.
Where to get it The vital records office, or the county clerk, where the marriage took place.
Listed by ADVA, veteran cemeteries read 2026-10-10

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-24.

What changed then:

New official source added: “ADVA rule, eligibility for burial in state veterans cemeteries (Internet Archive copy; the department's link answers 404 since its 2026 rebuild)”.
New official source added: “ADVA, North Little Rock cemetery (read 2026-10-24)”.
Source removed: “ADVA rule, eligibility for burial in state veterans cemeteries”.
And 1 more change.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.