Friend died. I didnt see the body but they had a flag draped over the coffin. It was closed coffin even at the wake. Was he too damaged to be seen or do they do that with all of them?
2007-10-11 05:52:50 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The casketed, mortal remains of all military are covered with the U.S. flag unless the next-of-kin says otherwise. I once had a young widow so upset about her Marine husband's accidental death in peacetime that she demanded (and got) the Bertran Russell-inspired "Peace flag" placed on the coffin instead of the U.S. flag.
As for the closed coffin, there are cases where the mortal remains might be considered to be non-viewable by family and friends. It is left to the receiving mortuary to deal with the next-of-kin and explain the situation. However, if the next-of-kin decides to see the mortal remains, then that is done in private.
2007-10-11 06:32:18 · answer #1 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if they are eligible for a military funeral and the family agrees all veterans can have a flag draped coffin. Some people prefer a closed coffin so it doesnt necessarily mean that the body was too damaged to be viewed.
2007-10-11 06:01:12 · answer #2 · answered by Diane M 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They do do the flag thing with all military deaths. Even my grandfather had a flag when he died 50 yrs after the war. When my godfather died (1 of 1st casulities of the Iraq war) he was very damaged and then offered to let close family see him before the wake but DIDNT recommend it. The family chose to go with the recommendations of the marines. I think the flag on the coffin is more of an honor thing than a physical thing.
2007-10-11 06:00:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, all Marines have flag draped coffins. If the service includes an open casket or not is strictly up to the family.
2007-10-11 06:47:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
All military funerals have a flag draped coffin. Prior to interment the flag is removed, folded, and presented to the next of kin by the honor guard.
2007-10-11 06:00:21 · answer #5 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The flag on the coffin is standard military honors for all services. Closed-casket is up to the family, and is the norm if there is severe damage. My respects to your friend from a vetran.
2007-10-11 10:39:30 · answer #6 · answered by Stephen H 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All servicemen and woman are entitled to have the flag covered coffin, but as has been already stated it remains to the next of kin's descicion. Its also applicable to veterans to have a flag on thier casket. Before the removal from the funeral home as was in the case of my father-in-law, was folded in the tri-corner shape and placed in a plastic holder till the funeral ceremony.
2007-10-11 07:16:29 · answer #7 · answered by bob t 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All military funerals are like that for those who die while in service to their country. Older veterans who die may have open coffin for the wake and funeral and have the military honors at the burial site.
2007-10-11 05:58:35 · answer #8 · answered by Country girl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In theory, yes. If the family chooses not to have a military funeral, then it wouldn't.
Closed casket funerals are generally held when the remains are too badly damaged to view without causing the family more distress.
2007-10-11 07:18:23 · answer #9 · answered by psyop6 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Happy Birthday Semper!
2016-05-21 22:15:39 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋