Every branch of the military has its own language, its own traditions, and its own way of saying goodbye. A prayer that mentions the watch, the sea, or the sky can mean so much more to a veteran’s family than a general one.
Below you’ll find an original prayer for each branch, along with the Scripture passages and traditional hymns most often connected to that branch. They can be read by a chaplain, pastor, or family member, printed in the funeral program, or spoken at the graveside before Taps.
Original prayers © Noted & Charmed by C. Lindorfer. Free for personal memorial use with credit. Scripture is from the King James Version.
In This Collection
- Army
- Navy
- Marine Corps
- Air Force
- Coast Guard
- For Any Branch
- When Prayers Are Said at a Military Funeral
An Army Funeral Prayer
Lord, You walked with this soldier
through basic training and long deployments,
through cold mornings and dusty roads,
through the weight of the pack and the weight of the mission.
Thank You for the courage You gave,
and for the brothers and sisters who stood beside them.
Now let them lay the pack down.
Stand them easy, Lord.
Their tour is over, and they are coming home to You.
Amen.
Scripture often read for a soldier: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1. Psalm 91 is often called “the Soldier’s Psalm.”
Put the Prayer in the Program
These military templates have room for a branch prayer, the order of service, and the honors, so guests can follow along. Each is editable in free Canva and ready to print.
See All Military Programs →
A Navy Funeral Prayer
Eternal Father, You held the sea in Your hands
every day this sailor stood watch.
You were there in the storms and in the calm,
on the long nights far from home,
in every port and every homecoming.
Now bring them into the harbor where no storm can reach,
and let them hear, at last,
“You stand relieved. We have the watch.”
Amen.
Scripture often read for a sailor: “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.” — Psalm 107:23–24
The Navy Hymn (1860), often sung or read at Navy funerals:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
A Marine Corps Funeral Prayer
Lord, this Marine was always faithful —
to the Corps, to their country,
to the Marines on their left and right,
and to the family who waited at home.
They ran toward the hard things.
They never left anyone behind.
Now we ask You to do what they always did for others:
bring them home,
and don’t leave them behind.
Semper Fidelis. Amen.
Scripture often read for a Marine: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
The Marines’ Hymn, which opens “From the Halls of Montezuma / To the shores of Tripoli,” is often played at Marine Corps services.
An Air Force Funeral Prayer
Lord of the wide sky,
You gave this airman a mission,
whether they flew above the clouds
or kept the aircraft flying below them.
You were with them in every takeoff,
every long shift on the flight line,
and every safe return.
Now take them higher than any aircraft can climb,
and give them a gentle landing in Your arms.
Amen.
Scripture often read for an airman: “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” — Psalm 139:9–10
A Coast Guard Funeral Prayer
Lord, when the call came, they were always ready —
into the storm, into the cold water,
toward someone else’s worst day.
They went out so others could come home.
Now the storm is over.
Bring them in from the sea,
and let them rest.
Semper Paratus. Amen.
Scripture often read for a Coast Guard member: “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” — Psalm 107:29–30. The Coast Guard’s service song, “Semper Paratus,” is often played as well.
A Benediction for Any Branch
Lord, You know the oath they took,
the miles they traveled,
and the price their family paid while they served.
Receive this veteran with honor.
Comfort those who loved them.
And let the peace they defended
be theirs forever.
Amen.
A verse for any service member: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” — Isaiah 6:8
When Prayers Are Said at a Military Funeral
- Opening prayer: at the start of the funeral or memorial service, usually led by a chaplain or pastor.
- At the graveside: a short committal prayer is often said after the casket or urn is placed and before military honors begin.
- Before Taps: some families ask for a brief branch prayer or benediction right before the bugler plays.
- In the program: the branch prayer can be printed on an inside page or the back cover so guests can read along.
For a full walkthrough of the ceremony, see our guide to the order of service for a military funeral.