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A military funeral in the United States is a funeral given by the Military for a Veteran , a soldier who died in battle, a member of a law enforcement agency or a fire department who dies in the line of duty, or another prominent military figure. When they die, U.S. Presidents often receive military funerals. In the U.S., the Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to veterans.

As of January 1, 2000, Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act mandates that the U.S. military must provide the rendering of U.S. military funeral honors for an eligible veteran if requested by the family. As provided by law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of not less than two members of the armed forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent armed service of the deceased veteran. The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of "Taps." "Taps" will be played by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. Today, there are so few buglers available that the U.S. military services often cannot provide one. The law allows Reserve and National Guard units to help with funeral honors duty.

Those who are eligible for U.S. Military Funeral honors:
  • Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.

  • Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.

  • Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.

  • Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

  • Police officers or firefighters that are killed in action.




FEATURES OF A MILITARY FUNERAL IN THE UNITED STATES

Includes all or some of the following depending on status of deceased (active, retired, veteran, rank/occupation)
  • The Coffin is draped in a U.S. Flag as a Pall .

  • The flag is folded and presented to next of kin, "on behalf of a grateful nation." (Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin as a keepsake after its use during the funeral service. When there is no next-of-kin, the flag is presented to a friend making a request for it).

  • The flag for someone who dies during active duty is provided by that individual's branch of service. The U.S. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides a U.S. flag at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces.

  • The coffin is sometimes transported by way of a horse-drawn Caisson , a custom which police departments also sometimes follow. For funerals of former presidents, a riderless horse, symbolizing a fallen leader, usually accompanied the caisson.

  • A Cannon is fired, a practice which originated in the British Navy . When a cannon was fired, it partially disarmed the ship, therefore firing the cannon represents trust and respect.

  • Gun salute for those eligible (e.g., general officers, presidents, other high-ranking officials)

  • " Taps " is played on the Bugle , at a distance (30-50 yards) from the grave site.

  • A Fly-by by military jets in a Missing Man Formation is performed when requested at funerals for flyers and general officers of the United States Air Force .



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