The Trail Ahead

How to Request Military Funeral Honors: A Guide for Families

Every eligible veteran has earned military funeral honors: a folded flag presented to the family, and Taps played at the graveside. But the honors aren't automatic. Someone has to ask.

In most cases, that someone is the funeral director, and all the family has to do is say one sentence:

"Our loved one was a veteran, and we'd like military funeral honors."

The funeral director contacts the military and arranges the rest, at no cost to the family.

Many families never hear that sentence until it's too late to say it. This guide walks through what the honors include, who qualifies, how to request them, and what to do when something goes wrong, so your family can be ready before the hardest day.

What military funeral honors include

Every eligible veteran receives the same core ceremony, provided free by the Department of Defense:

An honor guard of at least two uniformed service members, at least one from the veteran's own branch
Folding of the American flag, and its presentation to the next of kin
Taps, played by a bugler when one is available, or otherwise by a ceremonial bugle

More can be added. Local veterans groups such as the American Legion and VFW often join the military detail with a rifle volley, pallbearers or a color guard. Flyovers, color guards and rifle details from the military itself depend on eligibility, availability and approval, so ask early if they matter to your family.

Each veteran is entitled to one honors ceremony, held at the time of the funeral or memorial service.

Who qualifies

According to the Department of Defense, these people are eligible for military funeral honors:

Service members who die on active duty
Veterans discharged under honorable conditions, which includes both honorable and general (under honorable conditions) discharges
Members and former members of the Selected Reserve who left under the same conditions
Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and NOAA Corps

A veteran whose discharge was other than honorable generally does not qualify. The veteran's branch of service makes the final decision on eligibility, usually from the DD-214 discharge papers.

If you're not sure, ask anyway. The funeral director or the branch's honors coordinator can check.

How to request military funeral honors

Tell the funeral director right away. Say the veteran served and that you want military funeral honors. The funeral director makes the request with the veteran's branch of service.
Find the discharge papers. The military will ask for a DD-214 or another discharge document showing honorable service. Give the funeral director a copy, never the original.
Give at least 48 hours' notice. The services recommend at least 48 hours to put a detail together. Two to three days before the service is better, and more around holidays.
Tell the funeral director what else you'd like. A rifle volley, pallbearers or a local veterans group can often be arranged, but only if someone asks.
Decide who receives the flag. It's presented to the next of kin, usually the spouse, unless the family chooses someone else.

If you're arranging things yourself, for example when you have cremated remains and are planning a burial later, you can contact the honors coordinator for the veteran's branch directly. Each branch's coordinators are listed in the Military Funeral Honors Directory.

Need help? Military OneSource answers questions from families and funeral planners 24 hours a day at 800-342-9647.

Common situations

"We can't find the DD-214." Don't let that stop the request. The funeral director can file the National Archives' Military Records for Veterans Burial and Funeral Benefits form (D791) to get records quickly for a funeral. Next of kin can also request a copy of the DD-214 online from the National Archives at no cost. If the records were lost in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, the Archives can provide a letter verifying service instead.

"The veteran was cremated." Honors can still be held at the memorial service or at a later burial of the urn. If no funeral home is involved, contact the branch's honors coordinator through the Military Funeral Honors Directory.

"The burial is at a family or church cemetery." Honors aren't limited to national cemeteries. The detail comes to private and public cemeteries alike.

"The funeral home hasn't done this before." Ask them to call the honors coordinator listed in the directory, or call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 together.

"The service is in two days." Ask anyway. Forty-eight hours is the recommended minimum, and a request made on shorter notice may still be filled.

Other honors and benefits to ask about

Military funeral honors come from the Department of Defense. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers separate memorial benefits, and families often miss them:

Burial flag: a U.S. flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn, free for eligible veterans. Funeral directors usually request it (VA Form 27-2008), and flags are also available at many post offices and VA offices.
Headstone, marker or medallion: a government headstone or marker for the grave, at no cost, in a national, state or private cemetery. Call the VA at 800-697-6947.
Presidential Memorial Certificate: an engraved certificate signed by the current President honoring the veteran's service. Family and friends can request it, and more than one copy (VA Form 40-0247).
Burial in a VA national cemetery: a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a liner, a headstone and perpetual care, all at no cost. Schedule through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.

A step to take now: veterans can ask the VA ahead of time whether they're eligible for burial in a national cemetery, using VA Form 40-10007. The VA keeps the decision letter on file, which makes scheduling much easier for the family later.

Be ready before you need it

The families who get through this day most smoothly are the ones who talked about it ahead of time. Know where the DD-214 is. Know whether your veteran wants a national cemetery or the family plot. Write down who to call.

The Trail Ahead is our free one-page planning sheet with these steps and phone numbers in one place, ready to keep in the drawer with the discharge papers. And while your veteran is still here to tell it, record the story behind the flag.

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VetTrails is an independent, veteran-owned business. It is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and phone numbers can change, so confirm details with your funeral director or the agencies listed below.