Salute to Spouses Blog

We're excited to be blogging about the latest topics in military life. We want to keep you informed on topics such as current events, education, career advice, etc. Feel free to post comments or questions to any of our entries.
Websites we love: Military Funeral Honors

https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/mfh/

It’s the topic no one wants to talk about; especially not the 20-something wife of a soldier.

Funeral arrangements. Not a happy topic, not an easy topic, but at some point, everybody has to face this reality. That day will be easier if you have some preparation.

And military funerals are quite a production. They are gut-wrenching and awe-inspiring all at once. And our personal opinion is that every single veteran who has served deserves the full honor afforded to them.

For the grieving family, that can be a lot to organize. Especially if you do not live near a national or state cemetery where many of the traditions are already arranged and waiting.

You may be decades away from worrying about making such arrangements, but it is worth taking a look at the Department of Defense’s office website that details military funeral honors.

The site outlines who is eligible for the honors, please note military spouses and close friends, family and children are not eligible for the ceremony though spouses may be eligible to be buried in military cemeteries even if they pass before their military member. It also outlines the basic duties that the law requires the closest military unit to supply: the play of Taps, flag folding, flag presentation.

The military is able to offer other elements of the ceremony such as a color guard and rifle detail but those additions often depend on where the service member is buried and if those units are located nearby and available.

More grandiose gestures, such as a military fly-over or burial at sea, have very specific requirements and are at the discretion of each military branch.

You can even check the map of national and state cemeteries that are spread out across the country. Arlington Cemetery is perhaps the most well-known but it is not the only national cemetery. There are a total of 131 national cemeteries in 40 states where veterans can be laid to rest.

And, veterans who are buried in national cemeteries are laid to rest, for free. No cost for the plot, stone or service.

It is important to note that gravesites here cannot be reserved in advance. Have your veteran tell you their preference of burial locations, their first choice, and a backup in case the cemetery has become full over the years and is no longer accepting burials. 

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