The military funeral is one of the most spectacular ceremonies offered to deceased armed forces personnel. The entire performance is wrought with symbolism and embedded in honoring the individual’s contribution to this country.  

All active and retired armed services and Select Reserve members who have not been dishonorably discharged can receive a military funeral. An individual’s rank will determine what is included in the event. At minimum, the ceremony includes an honor guard, the presentation of an American flag to the next of kin, and the playing of “Taps.”  

A military chaplain can conduct the service, if desired. The coffin is draped by an American flag with the blue portion placed at the head of the casket. A horse-drawn caisson or a hearse is used to convey the coffin to the burial site.

The honor guard, which will follow the casket, can either function as pall bearers or as ceremonial guards. This guard is made up of at least two armed forces members, one of whom represents the branch for which the individual served. They will all wear the uniform that represents the deceased’s branch of the armed forces. 

During the burial, they will fold the American flag thirteen times as “Taps” is played. Each fold is a symbolic representation for aspects of life, duty, faith and country and results in the stars facing upwards. This final fold is to represent our country’s motto “In God We Trust.” The flag is then presented it to the next of kin. A bugler usually plays “Taps,” but because of the declining number of buglers available, it is increasingly being played on a trumpet or as a recording.  

High-ranking officials, including colonels and above, receive the full honors. These honors involve a three-volley salute by gun, or by cannon for Navy members, which is conducted simultaneously with the performance of “Taps.” A riderless horse also escorts the caisson in the full honors. Boots are placed backwards in the stirrups to represent the fact that the deceased will never ride again.  

These services are provided for free by the Department of Defense and can be requested by your funeral director.   

At all military funerals, a military honor detail should be present. This detail should consist of at least two active members of the Armed Forces. One of these members should belong to the same branch of the military as the deceased. This detail, though, can consist of many more people. They can be active or retired members of the military and/or members of veterans organizations.  

The military honor detail should fold the flag of the United States. The flag is then presented to the deceased veteran’s next of kin. If a next of kin is not present, the flag is given to a close friend or associate. The flag is usually presented by a military chaplain at the end of the funeral. 

Taps should be played at all military funerals. If possible, this composition should be performed by a bugler in the military. However, if such a bugler is not available, taps may be played by a civilian musician or by an audio recording. Taps is usually performed at the conclusion of a funeral. 

According to the National Defense Authorization Act, the Department of Defense is required, if requested, to provide the above-mentioned honors for the funerals of veterans. Deceased who are eligible include: 

1. military members who were on active duty or in the Selected Reserve
2. former military members who served on active duty and did not receive a dishonorable discharge
3. former military members who finished at least one term of enlistment and did not receive a dishonorable discharge
4. former military members who finished a term of service in the Selected Reserve and did not receive a dishonorable discharge
5. former military members of the Selected Reserve who were discharged because of a disability

Some military funerals have a firing party that does a 3-volley salute over the grave. (In the navy, a cannon is fired.) A firing party is often present for military members who have died on active duty or for a person who holds the Medal of Honor. However, a firing party can also be used at the funeral of any retired member of the military.  

A request for military funeral honors for a veteran’s family should be submitted to the Department of Defense by a funeral home director. 

“The rendering of Military Funeral Honors is a way to show the nations deep gratitude to those who in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our country. This ceremonial paying of respect is the final demonstration a grateful Nation can provide to the veterans’ families.”

What May Be Expected at a Military Funeral?

• An Honor Guard
• Three rifle volleys (if available)
• Taps
• Folding of the flag
• Presentation of the flag

The 3-volley salute is a sign of respect performed at military funerals as part of the ceremony of the Honor Guard. At the command of the officer -in-charge, the guards fire their weapons three times in unison. The honor guard the ceremonial escort for the funeral will consist of not less than two members of the Armed Forces, one member representing the parent Service of the deceased. The honor guard will perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the flag to the person designated as next of kin and the playing of “Taps". Taps is a very famous piece of music, played by the US Military during funeral and flag ceremonies, usually on a bugle or a trumpet. The piece is also sometimes called "Butterfield's Lullaby", or by the words of its second verse, "Day is done". "Taps" will where ever possible be played by a bugler, but as there are no longer that many proficient buglers resident in the armed forces today, often an electronic recording is substituted.

Usually, after "Taps" is played, the flag is folded and presented to the next of kin. The designated member of the guard of honor faces the chosen recipient of the flag and holds the folded flag at waist-height with the straight edge facing the recipient. He kneels, on one knee, in front of the next of kin and solemnly presents the flag using the deceased Service preferred wording, If the deceased was a member of the Army: the words would be “On behalf of the President of the United States and the people of a grateful nation, may I present this flag as a token of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service your loved one rendered this nation.”  For all branches of the armed services similar wording is used.