Every eligible veteran is entitled to military funeral honors, at no cost to the family. A surprising number of families never ask — either because they do not know it is available, or because they assume it must be arranged months ahead. Neither is true.
What honors include
The legal minimum is two uniformed service members, the folding and presentation of the flag, and the sounding of Taps. A fuller rendering, where a detail or honor guard is available, may add:
- Presentation of the colors
- The national anthem
- Reading of the military service record — branch, years served, rank.
- Rifle volley — three rounds fired by a detail.
- Sounding of Taps — a live bugler where one is available.
- Folding and presentation of the flag — to the next of kin, with the words of presentation.
- A moment of silence
The rifle volley is not a 21-gun salute. A 21-gun salute is artillery, rendered for heads of state. What is fired at a funeral is a three-round volley. Families often expect one and are told the other, and the program is a good place to name it correctly.
Who is eligible
Broadly: military members who died on active duty, veterans who served and were not dishonorably discharged, and certain members of the Reserve and National Guard. Eligibility is established with a discharge document, usually a DD Form 214.
If you cannot find one, say so early rather than assuming it rules honors out. Copies can be requested from the National Archives, and funeral directors do this regularly.
How to request them
Through the funeral director. This is the part families get wrong by trying to do it themselves: the director contacts the relevant service branch on your behalf, as routine. Tell them at the first meeting, and bring the discharge paperwork if you have it.
Availability of a full detail varies by region and by how much notice there is. A live bugler in particular is not guaranteed — many services use a ceremonial bugle that plays a recording, which sounds correct from where the family is sitting.
Where it goes in the program
Honors belong inside the order of service rather than as an appendix, and they go before the recessional — the recessional stays the last word of the service.
Seven entries is a lot of vertical space on a folded panel. Set two-up in columns they cost about four lines instead of seven, which is usually what decides whether the rest of the order still fits.
Include honors in the printed order
Add military honors to any service outline and they are laid out in sequence, set two-up to save the page.
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