Military Funeral Honors

"Honoring Those Who Served"

The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to Veterans who have defended our nation

Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 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 being a member of the Veteran's parent service of the armed forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veterans' family. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. Veterans organizations may assist in providing military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.

The Department of Defense began the implementation plan for providing military funeral honors for eligible Veterans as enacted in Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000 on Jan. 1, 2000.

Questions or comments concerning the DOD military funeral honors program may be sent to the address listed below. The military funeral honors Web site is located at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/mfh/. [Link will take you off the VA web site.]

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

(Military Community and Family Policy)

4000 Defense Pentagon, Room 5A726

Washington, DC 20380

Duggan's Mission Chapel can arrange free military funeral honors for eligible Veterans/Retirees at the ceremonies location of your choice, which would include at minimum the beautiful standard folding and presentation of the U.S. Burial Flag with playing of "Taps", for Veterans serving fewer than 20 years in the military, or "full" military honors of an additional gun volley ("21 gun salute") for eligible Retirees of career military service.