Honoring Those Who Served

Features of a military funeral in the United States

In the United States, the Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to veterans.
As of January 1, 2000, Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act mandates that the U.S. military must provide the rendering of U.S. military funeral honors for an eligible veteran if requested by the family. As provided by law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of not less than two members of the armed forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent armed service of the deceased veteran. The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of "Taps". "Taps" will be played by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. Today, there are so few buglers available that the U.S. military services often cannot provide one. The law allows Reserve and National Guard units to help with funeral honors duty.
Generally, the law allows for military funeral benefits for all veterans who were discharged under circumstances "other than dishonorable." Funeral directors will require the veteran's DD Form 214 to establish eligibility.
Those who are eligible for U.S. military funeral honors include:
• Former U.S. Presidents
• Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
• Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
• Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
• Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
U.S. military funerals include all or some of the following depending on status of deceased (active, retired, veteran, rank/occupation)
• The coffin is sometimes transported by way of a horse-drawn caisson. For funerals of former presidents and officers of O-6 rank and above, a riderless horse, symbolizing a fallen leader, usually accompanies the caisson. But for many military funerals the casket is simply brought in a hearse. The coffin is usually draped in a U.S. flag as a pall.
• A 3-volley salute is fired for most branches of the military. For the Navy, a cannon will be fired, a practice which originated in the British Royal Navy. When a cannon was fired, it partially disarmed the ship, therefore firing the cannon represents trust and respect. A gun salute is given to those eligible (e.g., general officers, presidents, other high-ranking officials.)
• "Taps" is played on the bugle or trumpet, at a distance (30-50 yards) from the grave site. During this time the “Final Salute” is given. (A shortage of qualified buglers has led to the use of prerecorded versions of the song being used. The group Bugles Across America[1] is attempting to combat this practice.)
• The flag is folded and is then presented to next of kin, "As a representative of the United States Army, it is my high privilege to present you this flag. Let it be a symbol of the grateful appreciation this nation feels for the distinguished service rendered to our country and our flag by your loved one." (Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin as a keepsake after its use during the funeral service. When there is no next-of-kin, the flag is presented to a friend making a request for it).
( The flag for someone who dies during active duty is provided by that individual's branch of service. The U.S. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides a U.S. flag at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces.)