What place do you get in touch with to arrange a 21 gun salute with a flag for a veteran's funeral?

Question

My Brother is a Navy veteran.He only has a few days left.Please help!!

Answer 1

Call your local VA post. I was on a detail that did that. We shared it with the American Legion!

Answer 2

When my Grandfather died - a WWII Paratrooper Veteran - the military honors were done by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post. Check the yellow pages for a post near you. If your brother was on active duty or a reservist then his unit should be squaring that away but as usual with the Government - double and triple check on that one!! The military has officers to deal with these kinds of questions so contacting his unit is a good place to start or if they are deployed go to the nearest recruiting station and talk to the Sergeants who will at least have access to the data you seek. The VA ( Dept of Veterans Affairs) is a good place to go but they are a typical government agency - plagued by red tape a thousand miles long for the simplest of tasks!! Good luck with the VA if you are on a time table. I hope this answered your question. I hope God watches over your brother, you, and your family from a former U.S. Army guy.

Answer 3

While on active duty in the early 1970's I was a member of the burial squad that did just that.
If a Verteran is being buried in Government Cemetary
the detail will be sent to perform the salute as well as
present the flag to the survivor (wife/daughter/mother etc)

If the Veteran is being buried in a private cemetary
You need a copy of the DD-214 of the Veteran
also having a copy of the Death Certificate helps
Go to either a VA rep (hard to find one nowadays)
or find a DAV rep and get the request in ASAP

Bases usually only have 1 burial squad
If you are lucky they wont be busy at the time you need them.

Also it wouldnt hurt to call your District Rep (Assemblyman)
HE or She may be able to speed things along for you

Answer 4

Get in touch with your local VFW... that's Veterans of Foreign Wars... Also, the local Navy or Marine Corps reserves may take part in handling military funerals, and should be able to handle that for you.

I am so sorry for the grief you are going through.. and that which is to come. Thank your brother for me... I appreciate his service to his country, and wish him an easy passing.

Answer 5

Here is what you need to do:

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 www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil.

Department of Defense
Directorate for Public Inquiry and Analysis
Room 3A750, The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1400


To arrange military funeral honors, contact your local funeral home.

Answer 6

Contact your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post. They are very often charged with providing this service in their communities and usually very willing to help on short notice. We didn't find out about this until after my FIL's funeral. Me in my USN uniform was the only recognition he received for his service in WWII. Your brother earned the recognition, he should receive it. www.VFW.org is the national web site for the organization and you should be able to locate a local Post there.

I am very sorry for your loss.

Answer 7

A local VFW group showed last month for my Uncle. The Funeral Director should have all this info too.

Answer 8

Call the VA
Go to the nearest base and talk to the chapilin or call
Contact DAV (disabled american Veterans)

Answer 9

Contact the nearest Navy/Marine Reserve Center. They provide this service all the time, and they usually have a list of people at that reserve center that have volunteered their time to do this at a minute's notice.
And thank you for your brother's service!!

Answer 10

This website says to talk to your funeral director. Whatever funeral home you decide to use should be able to help you. I'm very sorry for your brother's poor health.