Veteran's Benefits and Military Funerals
There is a law governing that all eligible veterans be given a military funeral honors ceremony with two or more military persons in uniform with at least one of them belonging to the parent company of the decedent's branch of the Armed Services. The service also includes the folding and presenting of the burial flag and playing of Taps. The funeral director should request this service on behalf of the veteran's family.
Veteran's Funeral Benefits Include:
- Military funeral honors ceremony
- A gravesite in one of the 125 national cemeteries where there is space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- Perpetual care
- Government marker or headstone (flat granite, flat bronze, flat and upright marble in a style consistent with existing monuments)
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Burial flag
- Burial for spouse and dependants in a national cemetery with the veteran and inscription on veteran's headstone
A military funeral is typically officiated by a military chaplain and has an honor guard to act as pallbearers or ceremonial guards who watch over the deceased.
Most of the time the casket is brought in by a hearse and the coffin is draped with a U.S. flag as a pall.The coffin is occasionally transported by a horse-drawn caisson, which if the veteran held a rank of O-6 or above (or former presidents); the horse is rider-less to symbolize the fallen leader. A full-honors funeral will also include a military band and escort platoon.