Holding a funeral helps honor the memory of a deceased loved one while providing a sense of closure to help surviving family and friends cope with the loss. If you are making arrangements for a veteran, there are several options available for former members of the military. The guide below offers a closer look at how to arrange a proper tribute for a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

Traditional Honors for Military Funerals 

Depending on the terms of service, the deceased veteran might be eligible for traditional military honors at the funeral. The honors are mandated by law, free of charge to those who qualify. The person must have been on active duty or in the Selected Reserve at time of death, while former military members who served on active duty or Selected Reserve must have been honorably discharged upon completion of enlistment. If requirements are met, the funeral home director will reach out to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), American Legion, or another veterans’ organization to request military funeral honors with a military chaplain presiding over the event.   

An honor guard detail will be present for the burial, including at least two members of the Armed Forces. One represents the branch of the military of the deceased. During the ceremony, the United States flag will be placed over the coffin and then folded and presented to the next of kin by the Armed Forces representative or chaplain. “Taps” will be played on a bugle or trumpet. Composed by Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield, the tune has been played at military funerals since 1874. It is also played to accompany the lowering of the flag at the end of the day. General officers and flag officers are also eligible for 16-gun salutes at the burial sites. 

Veteran Association Burial Allowances

There are financial assistance programs available to help alleviate the expense of planning military funerals. The VA provides burial allowances to those who qualify. The flat rate pays for burial and funeral costs. The monetary allowance is paid to the surviving spouse, legal partner, or adult children once the department is alerted to the veteran’s death. Before you pay out of pocket for the funeral, check with the VA to see if you meet the requirements.   

If you have recently lost a veteran, the caring, compassionate staff at E.C. Nurre Funeral Homes, with locations in Amelia, New Richmond, and Bethel, OH, will contact the US Department of Veteran Affairs on your behalf and handle all other aspects of making military funeral arrangements. To schedule a consultation to discuss funeral options in Amelia, call (513) 753-6130, contact the New Richmond branch at (513) 553-4132, or reach the Bethel location at (513) 734-2228. Visit the funeral home online to discover how they pay tribute to veterans, and follow them on Facebook for announcements.