Military Funeral Honors – Veteran Recognition
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.
It does not matter how long a veteran has served in the military, only that they have completed their service under honorable discharge status.
There is no time limit for applying for honors / interment in a National Cemetery.
After you watch the video, download the brochure detailing the many options we have for veterans – both veteran cremation as well as casket burial.
After the military honors service, the flag is presented to the next of kin.
It is not a durable fabric which can be flown outdoors, so is meant as a keepsake item for display.
We usually obtain the flag for families, but to apply directly please feel free to use the Veteran Flag Presentation Form provided for here for you.
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.”
- Rifle detail
- Color guard
- Pallbearers
- Caisson – 2-wheeled vehicle for artillery ammunition attachable to a horse-drawn limber
- Military flyover
Military Honors Application Process
- 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
- Veterans who died while on active duty or in the Selected Reserve
- Veterans 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 were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
- 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.
Do I have to pay to have military honors ?
Can a Veteran Have More the One Honor's Ceremony?
How to Request Military Honors ?
- ARMY: 858-573-7049 FAX: 619-615-2275
- NAVY: 1-800-326-9631 FAX: 619-532-3941
- MARINE: 866-826-3628
- COAST GUARD: 619-278-7676
- AIR FORCE: 951-655-6105
History of Rifle Salute
With military honors three volleys are fired. This comes from an old battlefield custom which allowed for the warring side to remove the dead from the field of battle. When the dead have been removed three volleys would be fired to indicate the it was time for the battle to begin again.
How May I Get Copies Of Military Records
The military identifies “Next of Kin” for this purpose as Surviving Spouse that has not remarried, Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, Sister, Brother.
How do I schedule and Interment in a National Cemetery
Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a phone call to 1-800-535-1117.