Burial and Memorials
Dates of Service
Northampton County death benefits are provided to veterans who had active service 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.
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.