Military Funeral Honors – Veteran Recognition

F ormal military honors are available to all eligible service members upon the request of their family. This benefit is secured in the National Defense Authorization Act (eff. 01/00), Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 which mandates that the United States Armed Forces shall provide the rendering of honors in a military funeral for any eligible veteran.

An honor guard detail for the burial or cremains interment consists of no fewer than two members of the Armed Forces. Honor ceremonies of veterans who served 20 years, medal of honor recipients, higher rank officers and active duty veterans may have more elaborate events. All ceremonies will however include the formal flag presentation, playing of taps and sometimes a rifle salute.

The Presidential Certificate is a special program started in 1962 by beloved former President John F. Kennedy and continues to this day.  The Presidential Certificate is an engraved high quality vellum certificate with the official Presidential Seal.  It is signed by the current elected President of the United States.

This special recognition states in part,

“This certificate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of the devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States.”

If you would like to take advantage of the military benefits you will need the discharge papers (normally DD-214). Do NOT send the originals but make certain to send a copy. The funeral director will usually help you apply, but if you need to do it yourself the application form(s) can be found on our website under the menu Funeral Support Information. Once the form(s) are completed and you are ready to submit them, you may do so in the following ways;

• In person at any regional Veteran Administration office
• By faxing the application to 1-800-455-7143
• By mailing the application toMemorial Programs Service (41B)

  Department of Veterans Affairs

  5109 Russell Road

  Quantico, VA 22134-3903

Having military honors at the burial is an honor. Take advantage of this addition to the military interment; it is a cherished privilege.

Categories of veterans are ineligible for military honors;

• If they have been convicted of capital offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole or receive the death penalty.
• If they were discharged from the military under dishonorable conditions, which includes dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, dismissal from the service by court-martial, other than honorable conditions.
• For officers, resignation for the good of the service in lieu of courts-martial, which results in a discharge characterization of other than honorable conditions.

We have listed some additional questions below that many people have regarding military honors. As well, you will find more information on Military Honors as well as other topics relating to the military on the many articles published in our blog, please see -> blog entries on military matters.