How is a US military funeral conducted?

Question

I was watching a small clip from a funeral on TV the other day and it showed a speaker conducting what i guess was roll call. He called the names of two soldiers who responded with "here, sir" then they called the name of what i assume was the fallen soldier three times. First it was corporal Lance (I'm just making this name up) then after a moment of silence he said corporal John Lance. Then after another silence he said Corporal John Andrew Lance. I was just wondering what significance this held since i've never been to a military funeral. The widow just absolutely lost it during this part so I was just thinking i want to better understand it.

Answer 1

I believe you're talking about "The Final Role Call" where they call the deceased 3 times for the last role call of a unit in formation. I don't believe this occurs during actual military funerals but is instead conducted within a unit as a memorial for fallen comrades. This is usually done in front of a rifle, boots, and tags (dog tags) erected for each man or woman lost within a unit. If you ever watch “Company Diary: The Marines of Lima Company (2006),” they perform one of those ceremonies for all the Marines they lost throughout theatre operations.

Basically, the “Final Role Call” is a symbol for the particular person no longer being present within a unit. Since most consider a unit a dysfunctional family you work with, it’s like loosing a brother or sister and the role call symbolizes the permanent loss of the person. …Many people “loose it” during the final part of the ceremony.

Hope that answers your question.

Answer 2

My son Michael had a Military funeral Feb 9th 2007 he past away on Feb 3rd 2007.

The Marines had a solider stand beside my son's coffin all the time and when one relieved the other they would salute each other then turn to my son and do the same. They had a Marine who was with me at all times during the showing and the funeral. The day of the Funeral they had us ( His dad,me, brother and sister walk behind the coffin when we left the church and at the grave side. We sat while the Preacher talked ( I can't remember what was said sorry) then they proceeded on playing the taps and shooting the guns.After they were done they folded my son's flag that was on his coffin and handed it to another Marine which then came over to me and got down on his knee ( In snow ) and handed me my son's flag. About 5 minutes later another Marine came over to me and asked for my son's flag saying he needed to tighten it up but later I found out he put three bullets from the guns inside my flag. I can still close my eyes and hear the taps to this day and that's something that a mother will never forget.

Answer 3

Military Roll Call

Answer 4

The guy above me is correct about the final role call, this can be very sad to witness. You also have a few ways that a military funeral can be conducted.

-One if the military member died while serving in a war, you will see their weapon placed upright with their boots and helmet on their weapon. and sometimes their picture placed near this.
-on active duty but not have died in war will get them full military benefits also
-those who are either retired or got out honorably also have certain rights with funeral benefits
Here are some good websites with info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_funeral
http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/faqpage.html
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/blfuneral.htm
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/jointservices/a/funeralhonors_2.htm

Answer 5

I'm with the Honor Guard in the state of North Caroline we do srvice for all service members that are from our area, and many outside the area. We have done as many as 100 service's in a year or more and we always do the last roll call it's the hightest honor a service member can get. they do not have to be retired, everyone gets last roll call full honors. I love to give that service member that honor he is entitle to it.

Answer 6

Been to several over the years. Each one was different.

A lot of folks in here are sensitive to a question like this. They think "bashing" right off because most are.

Answer 7

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In accordance with AR 670-1, paragraph 30-3: 30–3. Wear of the uniform by retired personnel a. Personnel who will be advanced to a higher grade upon retirement have the option of wearing the insignia of that grade thereafter. b. Retired personnel on active duty will wear their uniform and insignia in the same manner as prescribed for personnel in the Active Army of corresponding grade and branch. c. Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform for personnel in the Active Army of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not intermix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on the retirement order. d. Retired personnel not on active duty are not authorized to wear shoulder sleeve insignia, except as follows: (1) Personnel performing instructor duties at an educational institution conducting courses of instruction approved 314 AR 670–1 • 3 February 2005 by the Armed Forces will wear the shoulder sleeve insignia of the command that is responsible for the course of instruction. Senior and junior ROTC instructors will wear the Cadet Command shoulder sleeve insignia on their left shoulder (see AR 145–1 and 145–2 for wear of the uniform by senior and junior ROTC instructors, respectively). (2) Retired personnel are authorized to wear the shoulder sleeve insignia for U.S. Army Retirees on the left shoulder. The insignia consists of a white cloth disc with a blue border, and an inner white disc with a red border, which bears a blue and white adaptation of the coat of arms of the United States. The outer disk that surrounds the coat of arms contains the inscription “UNITED STATES ARMY” in red letters at the top, and the word “RETIRED” in blue letters at the bottom (see fig 30–1). Figure 30–1. Shoulder sleeve insignia, retirees (3) Retired personnel may wear the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service (SSI–FWTS) on the right shoulder if they were authorized wear of the SSI–FWTS while on active duty. e. Retired personnel not on active duty are not authorized to wear the Army uniform when they are instructors or responsible for military discipline at an educational institution, unless the educational institution is conducting courses of instruction approved by the Armed Forces. f. In addition to the occasions for wear listed above, retired personnel are authorized to wear the uniform only on the following occasions. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uniforms; the BDU and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. (1) While attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony. (2) Attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any active or reserve United States military unit is taking part. Wear of the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above is prohibited. g. Retirees are authorized to wear the physical fitness uniform (PFU) or the improved physical fitness uniform (IPFU) under the following provisions: (1) May wear the PFU or the IPFU with civilian attire off the installation. (2) When wearing the PFU or the IPFU as a complete uniform, retirees will— (a) Wear only authorized accessories corresponding to those worn by personnel of the Active Army. (b) Keep the sleeves down on the sweatshirt or jacket, the legs down on the pants, and the t-shirt tucked inside the trunks. (c) Not roll or push up the sleeves of the IPFU sweatshirt or the PFU/IPFU jacket. (d) Wear the sleeves of the IPFU sweatshirt cuffed or uncuffed; may not cuff the IPFU jacket sleeves. (e) Wear the black knit cap pulled down snugly on the head, with the bottom edge of the cap folded up; will not roll the edge of the cap. A similar, commercially designed black knit cap is authorized for wear. h. Pregnant retirees are authorized to wear the t-shirt/sweatshirt outside the trunks/sweatpants.