Burial and Memorials


Dates of Service

Northampton County death benefits are provided to veterans who had active duty service (other than active duty for training) during one of the following periods of war:

 

Desert Storm

August 2, 1990 to a date to be determined by Congress


Vietnam Era

February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 (Served in Vietnam)

August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 (All other Vietnam Era Veterans)

Korean Conflict

June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955


World War II

December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946


World War I

April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918

If in Russia, April 6, 1917 to April 1, 1920

Boxer Rebellion

June 20, 1900 to May 12, 1901


Philippine Insurrection

August 13, 1898 to July 4, 1902

If in Moro Provinces, August 13, 1898 to July 15, 1903

Spanish-American War

April 21, 1898 to August 13, 1898


Indian War

Between the years of 1860 to 1898


 

Burial Allowance

Northampton County extends an allowance of $100 toward the funeral and burial of honorably discharged veterans who served during any war in which the United States has engaged, and whose legal residence at the time of death was in Northampton County. One day's service during wartime fulfills time requirement for eligibility.

Application for this benefit must be made within one year after the death of the veteran. The application can be found below or with a local funeral home.

County Burial Benefits


Headstone

A further benefit is the provision of a headstone to mark the Veteran's grave.

Types available are:

• Flat Marble or Granite - Federal

• Upright Marble - Federal

• Flat Bronze - Federal

Northampton County will also pay normal costs not to exceed $100 for installation of a Federal marker or lettering on an existing memorial. The application can be found below.

 Headstone Application.pdf


Widow's Burial Allowance

Widows of eligible military personnel are entitled to $100 burial allowance. Their spouse must have been an honorably discharged veteran with wartime service and a legal resident of Northampton County at the time of his death. Application for this benefit must be made within one year after the death of the widow. The application can be found below.

 Spousal Burial App.pdf


Flags and Bronze Markers

Northampton County provides flags and bronze markers for Memorial Day observances. These flags and markers are used to decorate the graves of the veterans buried in the County. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides the markers free to various organizations which will assume the responsibility

of placing them on the appropriate graves. They are also available to individual families requesting them from the department

Veterans organizations interested in obtaining such flags and markers should submit a request on their official stationary to:


Department of Veterans Affairs

County of Northampton

Human Services Building

2801 Emrick Blvd

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020


Whoever steals or attempts to steal any veteran's grave marker is guilty of larceny, a felony, and upon conviction shall be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $500, or to undergo imprisonment for one year or both.

Whoever buys or receives for use as junk or scrap metal any veteran's grave marker or emblem is also subject to the same penalties.