What Are Military Honors?
Monday, August 30, 2021
By law, military funeral honors for all eligible veterans are free of charge. We at Gallagher Funeral Home provide these services, but we have seen that many people are not aware of what military honors are and how we conduct this type of service.
All About Military Honors
Here is some information that will help understand what’s involved.
- Two US armed forces members will be present as the honor guard detail at a veteran’s burial. One member represents the deceased veteran’s parent service.
- The veteran’s parent service representative will fold the American flag and present it to the veteran’s next of kin in the basic ceremony.
- If a bugler is available, they will play the taps during the ceremony. In case of unavailability of buglers, we will play an electronic recording of the same.
Eligibility For Funeral Honors
The eligibility criteria for a person to be eligible for funeral honors are:
- Military members in the selected reserves or those on active duty
- Former military members that served on active duty and passed away under honorable conditions
- Former veterans who have completed a minimum of a period of initial obligated service or one term of enlistment in the reserves have passed away under honorable conditions.
How Eligibility Is Verified
The preferred method for eligibility verification is:
- DD 214
- If this form is unavailable, a discharge document that shows anything other than a dishonorable service is acceptable.
- The veteran’s family members can obtain the DD 214 by requesting it from the National Archives online.
As a family member of an eligible veteran, you can contact a funeral director who will make all the required arrangements by contacting the appropriate military service for the veteran’s funeral honors detail. For any details about military honors, feel free to call Gallagher Funeral Home at 318-640-1375.
Previous Posts
Making Sense Of Intense Emotions
Intense emotions are a natural part of the human experience, but they can be overwhelming and challenging to navigate. It's normal to feel a range of emotions, including joy, anger, sadness, and fe...
Ways To Personalize Your Loved One's Gravesite
The gravesite of a loved one can serve as a place for reflection, remembrance, and honoring their memory. When you personalize your loved one’s gravesite, the spot can become even more special and ...
Can I Rent A Casket For A Ceremony/Gathering Before Cremation?
At Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, we know that planning a funeral or memorial service for a loved one can be emotionally challenging, and the decisions surrounding the disposition of the body ca...
Can I Still Have A Gathering/Visitation/Service If I Choose Cremation?
Although the concept of cremation may be novel to some, the practice has a long and storied history. Many cremation urns of different types have been discovered in ancient tombs. Those who don't wa...
Can I Scatter Cremated Remains On My Own Property?
Many people turn to Greenwich CT Funeral Homes, like Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, for pre-planning or cremation services. When a family decides to cremate a loved one, one of their primary con...
Where Can I Scatter Cremated Remains?
One of the most common concerns expressed by families that cremate a loved one is what they will do with the ashes. Scattering cremated remains in a meaningful site is a common practice, although i...
Do I Have To Use A Burial Vault For Burial?
Many people who have lost a loved one choose to have their ashes interred. While families plan and organize everything else, we at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home have found that many people do no...
Special Ways To Remember A Loved One During The Holiday Season
Loved ones play a significant role in and shape every component of our lives. Humans are social creatures who form strong bonds with one another and suffer greatly when those bonds are lost. For th...
Is Live Streaming The Future Of Funeral Services?
We can now use modern communication mediums in a variety of ways. While children are attending school online, parents can work from home too. This gives us time and allows us to communicate with lo...
Coping With The Loss Of A Stillborn Birth Or SDS Child
The loss of a stillborn child or experiencing a stillbirth is a traumatic and devastating experience. In the coming days, weeks, and months, you could experience an overwhelming sense of shock...
Comments