Military funeral honors for veterans

All eligible veterans, including military retirees, are entitled to military funeral honors. At a minimum, the funeral honors ceremony will consist of the playing of taps and the folding and presentation of the American flag. At least two uniformed military personnel shall perform the ceremony. If a bugler is not available, an electronic recording will be played. One of the uniformed military personnel will be from the deceased veteran’s parent military service and will present the flag to the next of kin.

The next of kin or otherwise appropriate individual must request the funeral honors; they are not provided automatically. Per the Department of Defense (DoD) policy, the family must request that the funeral director contact the military. The American Legion is encouraged to augment the honors detail as an authorized provider with a chaplain, pallbearers, firing party, bugler and/or color guard.

When The American Legion is assisting the DoD, the Legion should conform to DoD’s methods of conduct. In working together, The American Legion honors those who have gone before and all requirements for a reverent, respectful and dignified ceremony are met.

For more information on military funerals, please refer to the Legion’s Post Officers Guide and Manual of Ceremonies starting on page 59. Download the guide at  www.legion.org/publications.