Ch. 10 - Funerals and US military branches

Services for Active duty personnel

1. Prep of remains(including escort)

2. Providing a united states flag for disposition and service

3. Dressing and casketing remains

Gold Star Lapel button

Families are entitled to this for those who lost their lives in armed conflict.

Standard military honors for all branches of military service

1. Include the flag presentation

2. Playing of Taps

Veteran

Person who served in the active military, naval or air service who were discharged or released therefore under conditions other than dishonorable

A form needed to ensure the family has eligibility for services offered by the military

DD-214 (certificate of release or military discharge from active service)

Who is responsible for contacting the proper branch of service for honors,burial in a national cemetery, procurement of burial flag , application for the presidential memorial certificate, headstone for burial in a private cemetery, for Veterans?

Funeral director

Military Honors

Provided at no cost to veterans who have been discharged (other than dishonorably)

Must include playing of taps, the folding of the flag and presentation of the flag by a representative of the deceased branch of service.

Taps

A bugle signaling “lights out" and time to rest; also played at military funeral services

Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker (VA 40-1330)

Application for headstone for burial in a private cemetery even if privately purchased headstone or marker is placed

Claim for government medallion for placement in a private cemetery (VA 10-1330M)

Application for medallion for placement on privately purchased headstone in a private cemetery

In order for a deceased veteran to have a military funeral a request must be submitted to the ….

Military funeral detail of the branch of service to which the deceased belonged to.

A military funeral may include both a chapel service and a graveside service or as is more common

Only the committal service at the gravesite

The funeral cortege for recipients of full military honors includes _____ personnel members

21

The processional to the graveside will be in this order:

1. Band

2. Escort (including firing party and bugler)

3. Clergy

4. Cassion and casket bearers (if any)

5. Family and friends

Conducts the service

Military chaplain or the clergy

Following the scripture reading and prayers, the firing party fires a _____

Salvo

During the folding of the flag the ______ plays taps

Bugler

The folded flag is presented to the _______

Next of kin

order of preference for flag presentation

1. Widow

2. Children according to age

3. Parents

4. Brothers or sisters

5. Uncles of aunts

6. Nephews, Nieces

7. Cousins, grandparents or close friends

Certificate of release or discharge from Active Duty (DD 214)

Official document containing the concise record of military service at the time of separation or discharge from the armed forces; necessary for employment, benefits and reenlistment

Burial flag

Provided at no cost to honor the deceased service in the armed forces obtained with form VA 2008.

Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC)

An engraved certificate signed by the current president to honor the memory of honorably discharged veterans who have died

Burial allowance

Veterans benefits allowing family to recover part of the cost of the funeral expense

Plot allowance

Veterans benefits allowing family to recover part of the cost of burial in a private cemetery

Closed Casket Flag

Center the flag on the casket so that the blue field (Canton) is at the head and over the left shoulder of the dead

Half couch casket flag

Arrange the flag in three layers to cover the closed half of the casket. The blue field (canton) will be the top layer of the deceased left side. Tuck the white margin along the hoist of the flag under so that only the canton and stripes show

Full couch casket flag

Fold the flag into a triangle and place it in the casket cap just above the left shoulder of the deceased

Chaplain

1

Bugler

1

Color bearers

2

Color guards

2

Commander of the post

1

Firing squad

7

Commander of firing squad

1

Casket bearers

6