Military Funeral Honors: What Families Can Expect & How to Request

Quick answer: Military funeral honors are available, upon request, to veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, Selected Reserve members, and those who die on active duty. Standard honors include a two-person honor detail, the playing of Taps, and folding and presentation of the American flag; a three-volley salute may be included where a rifle detail is available.

Most eligible veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable can receive military funeral honors, along with Selected Reserve members and those who die while on active duty. At minimum, standard military funeral honors include a detail of at least two uniformed service members, the playing of Taps, and the ceremonial folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin.

Losing someone who served is hard enough without having to navigate unfamiliar paperwork and protocol on top of your grief. Yet many families don't realize that military funeral honors are a legal entitlement, not a courtesy extended case by case. Congress guaranteed it. Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible veteran receive military funeral honors upon the family's request, and the armed services began implementing this mandate on January 1, 2000.

Still, the details matter: who qualifies, what's actually guaranteed versus what depends on resources, how to request honors in time for the service, and what the flag presentation means. This guide walks through each of those questions so your family can plan with confidence, whether you're working with a funeral director or coordinating directly with a service branch.

Who qualifies for military funeral honors?

Military funeral honors eligibility extends further than many families expect. According to the VA National Cemetery Administration, three groups qualify:

• Veterans who served on active duty and were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. This includes general discharges. If a veteran received an other-than-honorable discharge, the family should still ask. The relevant service branch makes the final determination.
• Current and former members of the Selected Reserve, which covers many National Guard and Reserve service members.
• Service members who die while still on active duty.

An honorable discharge is not a requirement for military funeral honors eligibility, and cremation does not affect a veteran's eligibility either. Honors are provided to the family at no cost.

There are narrow exceptions. Individuals convicted of certain serious federal or state crimes listed under 38 U.S.C. § 2411 may be excluded, as can cases where the circumstances of death would, in the Department of Defense's judgment, discredit the veteran's service under 10 U.S.C. § 985. These exclusions are rare and specific; they are not a reason to assume a veteran doesn't qualify.

What do standard military funeral honors include?

By law, military funeral honors must include a detail of at least two members of the armed forces who are not retired, with at least one from the veteran's own branch of service. At a minimum, that detail performs two core elements:

1. The playing of Taps. Whenever possible, this is performed by a live bugler. When one isn't available, a ceremonial bugle (a device that produces a recorded version of Taps while fitting inside a real bugle's bell) or a high-quality recording is used instead. Taps has carried deep meaning in military tradition since the U.S. Army officially recognized the current version in 1874; it became standard at military funerals in 1891, and Congress legislated it as the "National Song of Military Remembrance" in 2013.
2. Folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin.

Many families also picture a military honor guard funeral with a rifle volley, and that's often available, but it isn't guaranteed within the mandatory two-person minimum. When a rifle detail is present, often supplied by trained volunteers from veterans service organizations, the ceremony includes a three-volley salute. This is a distinct tradition from the 21-gun salute, a different and far less common honor reserved for separate occasions. Because the three-volley salute depends on the availability of a larger detail, families should ask in advance whether one can be arranged.

Additional elements, depending on available resources and the veteran's rank or service, can include a full color guard, pallbearers, a horse-drawn caisson, or a military flyover. Flyovers are not part of the honors mandated under 10 U.S.C. § 1491; they must be separately requested and are approved based on factors like aircraft and personnel availability, location, timing, and weather. Veterans service organizations such as the American Legion and VFW frequently supply trained volunteers to round out a firing party, color guard, or pallbearer team when active-duty personnel are limited. Full military honors, with a larger detail and formal casket team, are typically reserved for higher-rank veterans or specific circumstances; Medal of Honor recipients and former prisoners of war buried at Arlington National Cemetery are guaranteed full honors by law.

How does a family request military funeral honors?

Requesting military funeral honors usually starts with the funeral director or funeral planner handling the arrangements. Most funeral homes are experienced with the process and will contact the appropriate branch on the family's behalf. Military OneSource also maintains a Military Funeral Honors Directory that connects families directly with coordinators if needed.

If a VA national cemetery is handling the burial, cemetery staff can help arrange honors as well. The VA recommends contacting the relevant service branch at least 48 to 72 hours before the scheduled service, and submitting the request with proper documentation as early as possible to avoid delays.

The most commonly required proof of service is DD Form 214, the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Older veterans may have an earlier equivalent document, and reservists sometimes have different paperwork. These documents are often kept among a veteran's personal papers, but copies can also be obtained from a county clerk's office or the VA if the veteran previously applied for benefits. If the paperwork has been lost, tell the funeral director. Records are also held by the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, which has its own process for handling burial-related requests. Eligible next of kin, including a spouse who hasn't remarried, parents, children, or siblings, can typically make the request with proof of death.

If no funeral home is involved, a family member or personal representative can contact the relevant service branch directly. Military OneSource's help line, 800-342-9647, is available for families who need guidance navigating the process.

How does a family get the burial flag?

Every eligible veteran is entitled to one burial flag, provided at no cost. Families apply using VA Form 27-2008, "Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes," which can be submitted to a funeral director, any VA regional office, or a post office (calling ahead is recommended). It's worth noting that the VA cannot replace a burial flag that is later lost, damaged, or stolen, so families should take care of it once received.

For a casketed burial, the flag is draped over the closed casket with the blue field positioned at the head and over the left shoulder. For a burial involving cremated remains, the flag typically arrives already folded in its traditional military shape; honor detail members unfold it over the urn before completing the same folding and presentation process used for a casket burial.

Why does the flag have 13 folds?

After Taps is played, the honor detail folds the flag into a tight triangular shape, resembling a tricorn hat, through a sequence that results in 13 folds. According to Military OneSource, a properly proportioned flag folds exactly 13 times along the triangles, and the number is meant to represent the 13 original colonies. The finished shape echoes the tricorn hats worn by Revolutionary War patriots, and when folded correctly, no red or white stripe is visible; only the blue field and stars show.

You may have come across lists online assigning a specific meaning to each of the 13 folds of the flag, covering themes like life, country, and faith. These interpretations are widely circulated and have even been read at public events, but they are not official military doctrine. Research into flag-folding traditions notes, this popular explanation is inaccurate, and fact-checkers have confirmed the per-fold meanings aren't part of any official government protocol. The documented, official explanation ties the 13 folds of the flag to the 13 original colonies, not to a list of symbolic meanings. Families are welcome to find personal significance in the folding ceremony, but it helps to know the difference between tradition and official record.

What is said during the flag presentation?

Since April 17, 2012, the Department of Defense has required a standardized script for the flag presentation during military funeral honors. The presenting service member says:

"On behalf of the president of the United States, [the veteran's branch], and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."

The presenter stands facing the recipient, holds the folded flag waist-high with the straight edge facing outward, and leans forward to deliver it solemnly, sometimes while kneeling. It's a brief moment, but for many families, it's the part of the ceremony that stays with them longest.

Who gets the flag at a military funeral?

The flag is presented to the veteran's next of kin. If no next of kin is present to claim it, it may be given, upon request, to a close friend or associate of the deceased. In practice, it's most often the surviving spouse or eldest child who receives it, but families should let the funeral director know in advance exactly who should be designated, especially in blended families or situations without a clear next of kin. A uniformed representative from the veteran's branch of service performs the actual presentation.

What does the day of the ceremony look like?

On the day of the service, the honor detail typically arrives and waits quietly until any clergy portion of the service concludes. If a rifle detail is present, it fires the three-volley salute; families with young children or anyone sensitive to loud sounds may want a heads-up beforehand. Taps follows, usually lasting under a minute, and then two members of the detail fold the flag before presenting it.

A few etiquette notes can help families feel prepared: it's customary to stand during Taps and the flag folding. Uniformed military members and veterans in attendance may salute, while others typically stand quietly with a hand over the heart. Filming the presentation is generally discouraged unless the family has specifically requested it.

Beyond the ceremony itself, other VA benefits are worth asking about, including a Presidential Memorial Certificate (VA Form 40-0247), a government-furnished headstone or marker, and burial in a national cemetery.

Planning ahead brings peace of mind

Military funeral honors exist because Congress recognized that a nation owes its veterans a dignified farewell, and that promise holds regardless of rank, era of service, or circumstances of discharge in all but the rarest cases. Understanding military funeral honors eligibility, knowing what's guaranteed versus what depends on available resources, and gathering documentation like the DD Form 214 ahead of time can spare a grieving family unnecessary stress during an already difficult week.

If you're planning ahead for a loved one, or even for yourself, talk to your funeral director early and keep key documents somewhere accessible. And if you ever need guidance, Military OneSource's help line at 800-342-9647 is there to walk you through the details of requesting military funeral honors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a veteran need an honorable discharge to receive military funeral honors?
No. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, including those with a general discharge, are eligible. Those with an other-than-honorable discharge should still inquire, as the determination is made by the relevant service branch.

Is the three-volley salute guaranteed at every military funeral?
No. The legally required minimum is a two-person detail performing Taps and the flag folding and presentation. A three-volley salute requires a rifle detail, which is common but depends on resource availability, and it is not the same as a 21-gun salute.

How far in advance should a family request military funeral honors?
The VA recommends contacting the service branch at least 48 to 72 hours before the scheduled service, though requesting as early as possible helps avoid delays, especially if proof of service documents need to be located.

What if the veteran's discharge paperwork has been lost?
Tell the funeral director, who can help initiate a records request. The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis maintains military records and has a process specifically for handling burial-related requests.

Who is eligible to request military funeral honors on behalf of a veteran?
Next of kin, including a spouse who hasn't remarried, parents, children, or siblings, can request honors with proof of death. If there's no funeral home involved, a family member or personal representative can also contact the service branch directly.

Is there a cost to the family for military funeral honors or the burial flag?
No. Military funeral honors and the burial flag are provided to eligible veterans' families at no cost.