Services Provided

What can the family of an eligible veteran expect?

By law, military units are required to provide, at a minimum, a two-person uniformed detail to present the core elements of the Funeral Honors ceremony. The core elements of the funeral honors ceremony, which will be conducted are:

Playing of Taps
Flag folding
Flag presentation

The veteran's parent Service representative will present the flag.

What additional Funeral Honors elements could be provided if personnel and resources are available?

Additional elements that could be provided as part of the Funeral Honors ceremony include:

Rifle detail
Color guard
Pallbearers
Caisson
Military flyover

Burial Flag

You may apply for the burial flag by completing VA Form 27-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes found at http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-27-2008-ARE.pdf. You may get a flag at any VA regional office or U.S. Post Office. Generally, the funeral director will help you obtain the flag.

Burial flags are provided at no cost.
After the burial, the flag will be presented to the veteran's next of kin. If no claim is made for the flag by the next of kin, it may be given, upon request, to a close friend or associate of the deceased veteran.
Additional information can be obtained from the VA's website