Departure Cities

The rendering of Military Funeral Honors is a way to show the Nation's deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our country. This ceremonial paying respect is the final demonstration a grateful Nation can provide to the veterans' families.

Burial at sea is an increasingly accepted and preferred method of interment. Many spouses are now considering burial at sea as an affordable, thoughtful, reasonable and timely solution. The National Cemetery Administration cannot provide burial at sea.

A recent newspaper article stated "As more and more aging military veterans die each day, their families are discovering there is a final stinging indignity. There are not enough places to bury their bodies."

"Many aging spouses find themselves storing away their husband's ashes in small brown boxes, waiting for the time they can be buried nearby. Unfortunately the fight to greatly expand the national veterans' cemetery system has gone on for years, and the increasing death rate has made it an urgent issue for veterans' families."

"Estimates from the Veterans Administration indicate that deaths will continue to increase dramatically over the next five years, with as many as 601,200 dying by 2003. Other estimates put the veterans' death rate at 3000 per day."

"Veterans' burials at sea are handled by the Navy, aboard ship leaving from east or west coast ports, on an irregular basis consistent with their military deployment. Burial at sea services are performed on Naval vessels while deployed on official maneuvers. Therefore it is impossible for the family to be present," quotes the official Navy Department letter.

All Florida Burial at Sea has been conducting ash dispersals at sea for families for the past 20 years off the coast of Southern California. Each service is handled individually, with respect and reverence. The Captain reads the Nautical Commitment to the Deep during the ceremony. The exact Global Position System location coordinates are recorded and provided to the family on the Certificate of Disposition. This enables family or friends to "re-visit" the exact site where original disposition took place.

The boat trip is exclusively for your family . . . only one family goes at a time.

Captain Gene Meister, ex-Captain USMC, Korea, the owner, oversees all dispositions to insure any special family wishes are accommodated, where possible.

Q & A regarding Veteran Interment

What Is A VA Burial Allowance?
A VA burial allowance is a partial reimbursement of an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs. When the cause of death is not service-related, the reimbursement is generally described as two payments: (1) a burial and funeral expense allowance, and (2) a plot interment allowance.

Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:

• You paid for a veteran's burial or funeral
• You have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran's employer AND
• The veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:

• The veteran died because of a service-related disability
• The veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death
• The veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay
• The veteran died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

How Much Does VA Pay?
Service-Related Death. VA will pay up to $1,500 toward burial expenses for deaths prior to September 10, 2001. For deaths on or after September 11, 2001, VA will pay $2,000. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of moving the deceased may be reimbursed.

Nonservice-Related Death. VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and a $150 plot interment allowance for deaths prior to December 1, 2001. The plot-interment allowance is $300 for deaths on or after December 1, 2001. If the death happened while the veteran was in a VA hospital or under contracted nursing home care, some of all of the costs for transporting the deceased's remains may be reimbursed.

How Can You Apply?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial Allowance. You should attach proof of the veteran's military service (DO 214), a death certificate, and copies of funeral and burial bills you have paid.

What about Military Funeral Honors?
"Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DaD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to veterans who have defended our Nation. Upon the family's request, the law requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at least one a member of the veteran's parent service of the Armed Forces. The DaD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veteran's 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.

What can the family of an eligible veteran expect?
The core elements of the funeral honors ceremony, which will be conducted are:

• Flag folding
• Flag presentation
• Playing of Taps

What is the Presidential Memorial Certificate?
A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorable discharged deceased veterans. Eligible recipients include the deceased veteran's next-of-kin and loved ones. More than one certificate may be provided.

Why does VA provide a 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.

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 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.

The playing of "Taps"?
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than Taps. Up to the Civil War, the traditional call at day's end was a tune, borrowed from the French, called lights Out. In July of 1862, in the aftermath of the bloody Seven Days battles, hard on the loss of 600 men and wounded himself, Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield called the brigade bugler to his tent. He thought "lights Out" was too formal and he wished to honor his men. Oliver Wilcox Norton, the bugler, tells the story, "...showing me some notes of a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope. (he) asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. Taps was soon adopted throughout the military. In 1874 it was officially recognized by the U.S. Army. It became standard at military funeral ceremonies in 1891. There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air.

FOR VETERAN HONOR CEREMONY, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL VFW OR AMERICAN LEGION POST , AND ASK ABOUT " HONOR GUARD " CEREMONY AVAILABLE.