When a veteran passes, one of the most meaningful things a family can do is ensure they receive the military funeral honors they earned. But navigating the process — understanding who qualifies, what to request, and how to coordinate it — can feel overwhelming during an already difficult time.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know, step by step.
Jump to a section:
Who Qualifies • What Honors Are Provided • Full Military Honors vs. Standard Honors • How to Request Honors • The Role of the DD-214 • If the DD-214 Is Missing • Veterans’ Service Organizations • Branch-Specific Considerations • What Families Should Know • Memorial Benefits to Request • Family Checklist
Who Qualifies
Military funeral honors are available to any veteran who meets the following criteria under federal law (10 U.S.C. § 1491):
- Served in the active military, naval, or air service
- Was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable
This includes veterans from all branches — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force — as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve who completed at least one federal activation or met minimum service requirements.
Eligibility is not limited to combat veterans or those who served during wartime. Any honorably discharged veteran qualifies, regardless of the length or nature of their service.
Good to know: Spouses and dependents may be buried alongside their veteran in a national cemetery, but they don’t receive military funeral honors themselves unless they are veterans, too.
What Honors Are Provided
At minimum, every qualifying veteran is entitled to:
- Two uniformed military personnel to conduct the ceremony
- The folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin
- The playing of Taps — either live or via a ceremonial bugle with a recorded performance
This is the baseline. Depending on the veteran’s rank, branch, and the availability of personnel, additional honors may be provided — including a rifle party for the three-volley salute, a full honor guard detail, and branch-specific ceremonial elements.
Full Military Honors vs. Standard Honors
Standard Military Funeral Honors — The minimum required by law: two service members, flag folding and presentation, and Taps. This is what most veterans receive by default.
Full Military Honors — A more extensive ceremony typically reserved for officers, senior NCOs, Medal of Honor recipients, Prisoner of War (POW) Medal recipients, and those who died on active duty. Full honors may include a caisson, a full honor guard, a rifle party, a military chaplain, and additional branch-specific elements, depending on eligibility and availability.
Families who wish to request full military honors should discuss this with their funeral director early in the planning process.
How to Request Honors
Military funeral honors are coordinated through the funeral director — families do not need to contact the military directly.
- Notify the funeral director that the deceased was a veteran and that you wish to have military funeral honors. Do this as early as possible — at least 48 hours’ notice is recommended to arrange an honor detail.
- Provide the DD-214 — the funeral director will use this to verify eligibility and submit the request.
- The funeral director contacts the appropriate branch or the DoD’s funeral honors coordination system.
- Confirm the details — date, time, location, and any specific requests — as the ceremony approaches.
Planning a later burial of cremated remains? Honors can still be arranged. Contact your branch’s funeral honors coordinator (numbers below), or ask a Veteran Service Officer to help.
The Role of the DD-214
The DD-214 is the primary document used to verify eligibility. Provide a copy (never the original) to the funeral director. If the DD-214 isn’t available, other discharge documents showing service other than dishonorable may be accepted.
Tip: The DD-214 is also needed for burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone, the burial flag, and survivor benefits — so keep several copies in one safe folder.
If the DD-214 Is Missing
Honors can still be arranged without the DD-214. The NPRC in St. Louis maintains military service records, and copies are free. Standard requests take weeks to months, but emergency burial requests are prioritized and can often be turned around within days — provide proof of death and the funeral date via their urgent fax line or online portal.
If the veteran’s records were lost in the 1973 fire at the St. Louis records center, the National Archives can provide a verification letter instead.
Veterans’ Service Organizations
When active-duty personnel are unavailable, organizations such as the American Legion, VFW, and AMVETS provide trained volunteer honor guards at no cost. Contact the nearest post or ask your funeral director for a referral.
Hoping for a live bugler instead of a recording? The nonprofit Bugles Across America works to provide volunteer buglers to play Taps at veterans’ funerals.
Branch-Specific Considerations
- Army — Installation Funeral Honors Officer at the nearest Army installation.
- Navy — Navy Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO).
- Marine Corps — Marine Corps Casualty Section.
- Air Force — Nearest Air Force base Mortuary Affairs office.
- Coast Guard — Coast Guard Casualty and Mortuary Affairs office.
- Space Force — Coordinated through Air Force channels.
- National Guard / Reserve — Veteran’s last unit of assignment or state adjutant general’s office.
Your funeral director handles this coordination — you do not need to contact these offices directly.
What Families Should Know
- There is no cost to the family for standard military funeral honors.
- Honors can be provided at any location — funeral home, place of worship, graveside, or national cemetery.
- National cemeteries provide burial at no cost, a government headstone, and perpetual care for eligible veterans. To schedule, fax discharge papers to 1-866-900-6417 and follow up by calling 1-800-535-1117.
- The flag is yours to keep — a gift from the nation, with no strings attached.
- If something goes wrong, contact the DoD Military Funeral Honors program or your congressional representative’s office.
Memorial Benefits to Request
Beyond the honors ceremony, the VA offers several memorial benefits families often don’t know to ask for. Your funeral director can help with most of these, and forms are available at cem.va.gov.
- Burial flag — An American flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn, given to the next of kin afterward. Apply with VA Form 27-2008; post offices and funeral directors can help you get one. Only one burial flag is provided per veteran.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate — An engraved certificate signed by the current President, honoring an honorably discharged veteran. Apply with VA Form 40-0247.
- Headstone, marker, or medallion — A government headstone or marker, or a bronze medallion to attach to a privately purchased headstone. Apply with VA Form 40-1330 (headstone or marker) or VA Form 40-1330M (medallion).
- Burial allowance — Some families may be eligible for a VA allowance toward burial and funeral costs. Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.
- Survivor benefits — Surviving spouses and children may qualify for monthly VA benefits such as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). A Veteran Service Officer can help you apply at no cost.
Family Checklist
- ☐ Find the DD-214 (or request a copy from the National Archives)
- ☐ Tell the funeral director your loved one was a veteran and you want military honors
- ☐ Give at least 48 hours’ notice for the honor detail
- ☐ Choose the cemetery — national, state veterans, or private
- ☐ Ask about a rifle volley or live bugler through local veterans organizations
- ☐ Request the burial flag (VA Form 27-2008)
- ☐ Request a Presidential Memorial Certificate (VA Form 40-0247)
- ☐ Order a headstone, marker, or medallion (VA Form 40-1330 / 40-1330M)
- ☐ Ask the VA about burial allowances and survivor benefits
- ☐ Decide who will receive the folded flag
- ☐ Prepare the funeral program, with a section for the military honors
Many families print this page and keep it in the folder with the DD-214.
Important Contact Information & Resources
National Cemetery Scheduling Office
Phone: 1-800-535-1117 (7 days a week)
Fax discharge papers: 1-866-900-6417
Website: va.gov/burials-memorials
VA Benefits (burial allowance, survivor benefits)
Phone: 1-800-827-1000
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
Phone: 314-801-0800
Emergency Fax: 314-801-9195 (SF-180 + proof of death required)
Online: archives.gov/veterans (select “Emergency Request”)
DoD Military Funeral Honors — Military OneSource
Phone: 1-800-342-9647 (24/7)
Branch Coordinators:
- Army: 1-800-325-4986
- Air Force: 1-800-531-5803
- Marine Corps: 1-866-826-3628
- Navy: 1-202-905-8344
- Coast Guard (24/7): 1-571-266-2375
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
Phone: 1-800-959-TAPS (8277), 24/7 support for military families
Phone numbers and forms can change. Please confirm with the VA or your funeral director for the most current information.
Honoring Their Service in the Funeral Program
The funeral program is one of the most lasting keepsakes from the ceremony. Including a note about the veteran’s branch, years of service, and the honors being rendered gives every guest a way to understand and share in the tribute.
All templates at Noted & Charmed are Canva-editable and ready to personalize. Browse our Military & Patriotic collection for designs built for a veteran’s memorial.
Related Resources
- Understanding the Order of Service for a Military Funeral
- The Meaning Behind Military Funeral Traditions
- Step-by-Step: What Happens at a Military Funeral
- The Role of the Honor Guard at a Military Funeral
- The Flag: From First Salute to Final Presentation
- Taps: The Final Call
- Military and Veteran Obituary Examples
- Original Poems for a Military Veteran’s Funeral Program
- What No One Tells You About Being a Widow — including VA survivor benefits
© Noted & Charmed. This guide is intended for informational purposes to help families navigate military funeral planning with confidence. Sending comfort and heartfelt condolences.