The basic Military Funeral Honors ceremony consists of the playing of Taps along with folding & presentation of the United States flag to the veterans' family. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.The Funeral Honors will be determined by the status of the veteran.
At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the veteran/family.
• 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.
The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:
National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. For eligible veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already marked with a private headstone or marker. Applicants will have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or markers when there is an existing marker.
Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. Styling must be the same or similar to the existing monuments at the place of burial. Unique markers are also available to mark columbaria used for the inurnment of cremated remains.
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A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U. S. Armed Forces. VA will furnish a burial flag for memorialization for:
• A veteran who served during wartime
• A veteran who died on active duty after May 27, 1941
• A veteran who served after January 31, 1955
• A peacetime veteran who was discharged or released before June 27, 1950
• Certain persons who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951
• Certain former members of the Selected Reserves
• For More Information Call Toll-Free at 1-800-827-1000
