The Legislative Goal

We advocate for equal death and burial benefits, as well as perpetual care for all veterans, regardless of their final resting place, ensuring they receive the same level of support as those buried in national, state, and tribal veteran cemeteries. Additionally, we work to improve access and expedite the processing of death and burial benefits for widowed spouses and children of veterans, including National Guard and Reservists. We also push for increased training for those assisting with filing and submitting these benefits to address the significant number of unclaimed benefits by surviving family members.

What is the SP4 Luke Cash Act ?

The SP4 Luke Cash Bill: Fighting for Equal Veterans Burial Benefits

SP4 Luke Cash honorably served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era (1961–1963), assigned to the 67th Evacuation Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado. After his discharge in 1963, he built a civilian life—marrying, raising a family, and working hard to provide for them. Like many veterans, Luke never engaged with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or filed a disability claim.

When Luke passed away in 2024, he chose Lawndale Park, a community cemetery in Houston, Texas, as his final resting place. His daughter, Josie, honoring his wishes on a modest income, covered more than $8,000 in burial costs. Expecting some government assistance for his service, she applied for VA death and burial allowances.

Weeks later, she received a denial letter. Despite Luke’s honorable wartime service, he was ineligible for any portion of the $2,000 maximum benefit or transportation reimbursement. Why? Because he never filed a VA disability claim, nor did he die in a VA hospital or under VA care.

Thankfully, local nonprofits, including ours, stepped in to help Josie secure burial assistance. But this shouldn’t have been necessary. If Luke had chosen a national cemetery, all costs—including perpetual care—would have been fully covered, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. Yet, his family was denied a modest $2,000 to help with his burial in a private cemetery.

This is unjust and fundamentally wrong. Veterans who serve our nation, risking their lives for our freedoms, should not have their burial benefits tied to whether they filed a disability claim. In reality, those who never sought taxpayer-funded disability compensation should automatically qualify for the burial allowance—no questions asked. Had Luke filed a claim, he could have received hundreds of thousands in benefits during his lifetime. But because he didn’t, his family was left with nothing.

Burial benefits should be based on a veteran’s service—not a disability rating. At Warriors Remembrance Foundation, we believe the American people are unaware of this inequity, and we are committed to educating the public and pushing for change.

Join us. Sign the petition by using the link at the top of the page. Tell Congress to pass the SP4 Luke Cash Bill and ensure equal burial benefits for all veterans, regardless of disability status.

Facts

Veterans interred in National, Tribal, and State veteran cemeteries receive more benefits and far greater care than those buried in local municipal and private cemeteries.

The following chart, developed using data from the CFR, National Cemetery Administration, and Texas Veteran Land Board, reveals a significant disparity in burial benefits between veterans interred in National, State, and Tribal cemeteries versus those in local cemeteries. Only 22 percent of all U.S. veterans are buried in the former, raising the critical question: what happens to the other 78 percent?

With a budget of approximately $500 million for the National Cemetery Administration and $100 million in grants for state and tribal cemeteries, this funding primarily benefits just that 22 percent. Meanwhile, veterans in local cemeteries lack equal burial benefits, despite the fact that the same services are performed at both types of cemeteries.

No veteran who served honorably should have their family burdened with burial costs. We believe that burial benefits should be equal across all cemeteries. The funds allocated for veterans in National, State, and Tribal cemeteries should also extend to families choosing local burial options.