Veterans

Veterans Overview

The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony includes the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veteran's family, along with the playing of Taps. This ceremony is conducted by a funeral honors detail comprising at least two members of the Armed Forces. The honors rendered will depend on the veteran's status. The types of Funeral Honors may include Full Military Honors, a 7-Person Detail, or a Standard Honors Team Detail. At least one member of the funeral honors detail will represent the branch of the Armed Forces in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be performed by a bugler or, if a bugler is unavailable, by a high-quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may serve as pallbearers if requested by the veteran or their 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

  • Is anyone else eligible to receive funeral honors?

    Yes. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as members of a Uniformed Service, are also eligible to receive funeral honors.


    For NOAA personnel, eligibility is established using NOAA Form 56-16, Report of Transfer or Discharge. If the family does not have a copy of the NOAA Form 56-16, it may by obtained by contacting the Chief, Officer Services Division, NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center at (301) 713-7715. or by writing:


    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

    Commissioned Personnel Center 

    Chief, Officer Services Division (CPC1) 

    1315 East-West Highway, Room 12100 

    Silver Spring, Maryland 20910


    For PHS personnel, funeral honors eligibility is established using PHS Form 1867, Statement of Service (equivalent to the DD Form 214).  If the family does not have a copy of the Statement of Service, it may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Coordinator for the Commissioned Corps at (240) 453-6041 or writing:


    Division of Commissioned Personnel/HRS/PSC 

    Attention: Privacy Act Coordinator 

    5600 Fishers Lane 

    4-36 

    Rockville, Maryland 20857

Veterans' Headstones

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a government headstone or marker at no cost for the unmarked grave of any eligible deceased veteran worldwide, regardless of their date of death. For veterans who passed on or after Nov. 1, 1990, VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already marked with a private headstone. Applicants can choose between a traditional headstone or a new device (available spring 2009) when the grave is already marked.

Available options include flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze, as well as upright headstones in granite and marble. The selected style must match existing monuments at the burial site. Niche markers are also available for columbaria used for cremated remains.


For burials or memorializations in national, state veterans', or military cemeteries, cemetery officials will order the headstone or marker based on information from the next of kin or authorized representative. Spouses and dependents are only eligible for a government-furnished headstone or marker if buried in these cemeteries.

Note: While there is no charge for the headstone or marker, placement arrangements and any associated fees in private cemeteries are the applicant's responsibility.


Important Notice: New Law Concerning Eligibility for Headstones and Markers.

Veterans Burial Flags

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 the war
  • 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 individuals 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
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  • Who Is Eligible to Receive the Burial Flag?

    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 who requests 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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Veterans