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Military Funeral Honors
Military Funeral Honors
The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff
assist with military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. On January 1, 2000, the Department of Defense began the implementation plan for providing
military funeral honors for eligible veterans as enacted in Section 578 of Public Law
106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing
dignified military funeral honors to veterans who have defended our Nation. While military
funeral honors are a long-standing tradition within the Armed Forces, this DOD program is
in response to the new law governing funeral honors for eligible veterans. Upon the family's request, the law requires that every eligible veteran receive a
military funeral honors ceremony to include folding and presenting the United States burial
flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as
consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at least one a member of the
veteran's parent service of the Armed Forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home
directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veterans' family. Veterans
organizations may assist in the provision of military funeral honors. When military funeral
honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service
by the funeral home. Questions or comments concerning the DOD military funeral honors program may be sent to
the address listed below. A military funeral honors web site is located at
www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil.
9504 IH-35 North, Suite 320
San Antonio, TX 78233-6635
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