Military Funerals
What is a "military funeral"?
A military funeral is a funeral that's provided by the military, usually at a military cemetery or a VA cemetery which is a Veteran's Administration cemetery.
Who is eligible for a military funeral?
Military funerals are available for active service military. Military funerals are also open to anybody who's been in the military and was honorably discharged, retired military, reserve military, their spouses and sometimes their dependents, depending on age. Military funerals are not that difficult to be able to facilitate. If you are active military, you would have a military ID card; if you're retired military or separated from the military, you would have what's called a DD-214, and that's what they would want to see in order for you to be buried at a Veterans' Administration cemetery.
What are the customary elements of a military funeral?
The customary elements of a military funeral are: the draping of the casket with the American flag, the Honor Guard bringing the casket to the grave side and the Honor Guard folding the flag and presenting it to the family. They also play "Taps," which is customary at all military funerals, and in some cases they actually have a 21-gun salute, which is 3 sets of volleys or shots shot into the air by 7 members of the honor guard.
What is a "National Veteran's Cemetery"?
A National Veteran's Cemetery is a cemetery that's owned and operated by the Veterans Administration of the United States government. It's facilitated by them. All the grounds in a National Veteran's Cemetery are kept by them. It is a place where military personnel and their dependents or spouses are buried.
Who can be buried in a National Veteran's Cemetery?
Any person who is active military can be buried in a National Veteran's Cemetery, along with anyone who's retired military, been in the military, is in the reserve military, or any of their spouses and sometimes their dependents, depending on their age.
