Funeral and Burial at the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Armed Forces
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The Department of National Defence, in partnership with Beechwood Cemetery, operates the National Military Cemetery (NMC) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in Ottawa. The NMC is a national focal point of honour that recognizes the men and women of the CAF who have served their country with distinction in war and in peace. This cemetery is unique within Canada. Military burials are based on tradition and the carrying out of that tradition must always be done in a dignified and professional manner to ensure those we mourn are provided the honour and homage that they have earned.
Eligibility
All serving and honourably released members of the CAF (Regular and Primary Reserve Force) and Canada’s Merchant Navy are eligible to be interred in the NMC. One designated immediate family member may also be interred in the same plot as the veteran. It is important to note that verification of entitlement must be established in every case.
How to Apply
To determine eligibility, a completed application form must be forwarded to the Directorate of Casualty Support Management (DCSM).
Once the application has been approved, Beechwood Cemetery will then coordinate the purchase, production, and installation of the standard headstone that will be used in the NMC.
Subject to availability and the wishes of the family, a military presence will be made available for all interments of former members of the CAF (Regular and Primary Reserve). This may include a small Presence Guard, padre, bugler and/or piper. Immediate family members, who are not former members of the CAF, are not entitled to this service. No fee will be assessed for this honour. In order to ensure that proper support can be provided, the request for a military presence must be made a minimum of five working days in advance.
Is There a Cost?
All burial costs for CAF members who are killed or die while still serving will be borne by the CAF (up to a maximum value in accordance with Treasury Board Directives).
Burial costs for veterans and their designated family members will be borne by the applicant or his/her estate. Beechwood offers pre-payment options so that those wishing to be buried at the NMC can take advantage of current prices. The current rates for burials and associated costs are published on the NMC web site.
More Information
- All inquiries related to applications for burial in the NMC should be directed to Directorate of Casualty Support Management (DCSM) or call toll-free in Canada at 1-800-883-6094, or local and outside Canada, 613-992-0307.
- To contact Beechwood Cemetery to make arrangements after your application has been approved, you can call 1-866-990-9530 or 613-741-9530 or you can send an e-mail
- The NMC is located in the Beechwood Cemetery at 280 Beechwood Avenue in Ottawa, Ontario, K1L 8E2.