keep hearing about the public radio station that will be on the air soon on the McNeese campus. What will the power of the station be? How big of an area will it cover? Will they carry NPR news, local news or none at all?

McNeese State University has yet to finalize plans for a tower for the station, KBYS-FM (88.3), so officials don’t know the extent of the broadcast area, said Candace Townsend, the school’s director of public relations.

“The station is projected to be 3,800 kW, and it will broadcast to an area that is primarily Lake Charles, with some reception outside of that area,” she wrote in an email.

“KBYS will be a community radio station, and programming will include a variety of musical genres, McNeese news and events, community information and weather.”

Officials have said the station will go on the air next year.

Online: www.mcneese.edu.

Flags, military honors among VA benefits

What does the government or military provide for funeral services for veterans?

Some burial benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs:

Flag — The VA will give U.S. flags to the survivors of veterans who served during wartime; those who died on active duty after May 27, 1941; those who served after Jan. 31, 1955; peacetime veterans who were discharged or released before June 27, 1950; certain people who served with organized Commonwealth of the Philippines forces and died on or after April 25, 1951; and certain former Selected Reserve members.

Burial allowance — The VA will pay up to $2,000 to cover the cost to bury a veteran whose death was service-related. It will pay lesser amounts for non-service-related deaths in some cases.

Headstone, marker or medallion — The VA will provide a headstone for any unmarked grave of a veteran; it may provide markers or medallions to supplement the already-marked graves of veterans who died on or after Nov. 1, 1990.

Military funeral honors — “Upon the family’s request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps,” reads the website of the National Cemetery Administration.

“The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran’s parent service of the armed forces.”

Those eligible for military honors: veterans who served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and those who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve.

Service members who received dishonorable discharges are ineligible for flags, markers and military honors.

For more information on veterans benefits, call the VA at 800-827-1000.

Online: http://benefits.va.gov; www.cem.va.gov.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com