What to Know About Military Funeral Honors

Veterans and active service members are entitled to specific funeral honors, but many families don't know how to request them or what they include. Understanding the basics ahead of time makes it easier to make sure a loved one receives the recognition they earned, without scrambling to figure it out during an already stressful week.

Who qualifies

Most veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for military funeral honors, provided by the Department of Defense. This typically includes a flag folding and presentation ceremony and the playing of Taps, performed by a detail of at least two uniformed service members, usually from the veteran's branch of service when available.

How to request honors

The funeral home handling arrangements can usually submit the request on the family's behalf, but it requires the veteran's discharge paperwork, known as the DD Form 214. If this document can't be located, the National Archives can help retrieve a copy, though it may take time, so it's worth starting the search as early as possible rather than waiting until the week of the service.

Burial benefits available

Veterans may be eligible for burial in a national cemetery at no cost, along with a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate signed in the President's name. Some veterans also qualify for a burial allowance to help offset funeral costs, and spouses and dependents may be eligible for burial in the same national cemetery plot in many cases.

Honoring their service afterward

Many military families choose to preserve their loved one's service history alongside personal memories in a lasting way, giving future generations a way to understand both who they were in uniform and who they were at home. This often matters most years later, when grandchildren or younger relatives want to understand a part of the family's history they never got to ask about directly.