Seaman First Class Billy Turner Veterans Cemetery, Ardmore
Oklahoma's only state veterans cemetery, in Ardmore, buries eligible veterans at no charge with the same eligibility as a VA national cemetery. Spouses and dependents are currently free too, though the state says their fees may change.
Also called: 72 O.S. 31a, state veterans cemetery, Ardmore, Billy Turner, burial, columbarium, precertification.
For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child, survivor.
Title 72, section 31a authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to run a State Veterans' Cemetery System and to "charge a fee for each interment of an eligible spouse or dependent of a veteran".
The cemetery. Seaman First Class Billy Turner Veterans Cemetery in Ardmore was dedicated on June 4, 2022, with the burial of a sailor killed aboard the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor. It was built with a $7,355,463 VA grant and is the state's first federally funded, state-run veterans cemetery.
Who may be buried. The department says eligibility "is the same as for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery". There is no Oklahoma residency requirement in what it publishes.
What it costs. The department lists $0 for a veteran and $0 for a spouse or eligible dependent, with a note that "fees for spouse/eligible dependents are subject to change". The gravesite, liner, opening and closing, headstone or niche cover, committal service and perpetual care are included. Plots cannot be reserved, but you can apply for precertification.
A trap. The department warns that a family who takes VA's commemorative urn or plaque gives up burial in a state or national veterans cemetery.
Thresholds
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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.