Recorder and coroner urge veterans to record DD214 to speed burial benefits

Marion County Coroner Alpharena McGinty and Recorder Faith Kimbrough urged veterans and their families to record DD214 (military discharge) forms with the county recorder to simplify funeral and burial benefits. “If that DD214 record has been maintained, then we can easily pull that ... so that decedent can get a proper veteran burial,” McGinty said, explaining recorded forms let funeral homes or families document veteran status quickly.

Faith Kimbrough noted that the recorder’s office records veterans' DD214s free of charge and encouraged veterans to use the service now so documentation is available when needed. “Our office will record that for them for free,” Kimbrough said. McGinty added that recorded DD214s can also help the coroner’s office locate and send unclaimed veterans to Marion National Cemetery for veteran burials.

Why this matters: keeping DD214s on file reduces delays and potential out-of-pocket costs for families seeking VA burial benefits. Both officials urged proactive recording of these documents as a routine public-service step.