top of page

MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS

​

The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veterans' family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.

 

The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the veteran.  The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail, or a Standard Honors Team Detail.

 

At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served.  Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the veteran/family. 

​

Who is eligible for 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.

 

Who is not eligible for Military Funeral Honors?

​

  • Any person separated from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions or whose character of service results in a bar to veteran's benefits. 

  • Any person who was ordered to report to an induction station, but was not actually inducted into military service. 

  • Any person discharged from the Selected Reserve prior to completing one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service for reasons other than a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

  • Any person convicted of a Federal or State capital crime sentenced to death or life imprisonment.

 

How do I establish veteran eligibility?

​

The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.  If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used.  The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:

 

National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132

 

The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from the National Records Center or via the following web site: http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf

​

Who Is Eligible to Receive the Burial Flag?

​

A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U. S. Armed Forces.  It is furnished to honor the memory of a veteran's military service to his or her country. VA will furnish a burial flag for memorialization for:

 

  • A veteran who served during wartime

  • A veteran who died on active duty after May 27, 1941

  • A veteran who served after January 31, 1955

  • A peacetime veteran who was discharged or released before June 27, 1950

  • Certain persons who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951

  • Certain former members of the Selected Reserves

 

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, VA will furnish the flag to a friend making request for it. For those VA national cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags, families of veterans buried in these national cemeteries may donate the burial flags of their loved ones to be flown on patriotic holidays.


How Can You Apply?

​

You may apply for the flag by completing VA Form 27-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes. You may get a flag at any VA regional office or U.S. Post Office. Generally, the funeral director will help you obtain the flag.


Can a Burial Flag Be Replaced?

​

The law allows us to issue one flag for a veteran's funeral. We cannot replace it if it is lost, destroyed, or stolen. However, some veterans' organizations or other community groups may be able to help you get another flag.


How Should the Burial Flag Be Displayed?

​

The proper way to display the flag depends upon whether the casket is open or closed. VA Form 27-2008 provides the correct method for displaying and folding the flag. The burial flag is not suitable for outside display because of its size and fabric. It is made of cotton and can easily be damaged by weather.

​

Additional Resources

​

Please visit the following links for detailed information about the options available for honoring service members and other aspects of military funerals:

​

​

bottom of page