“White lilies symbolizing remembrance and peace alongside the Harrison & Sons Funeral Home logo on a soft, neutral background.”

Military Honors

Special funeral services for veterans, known as Military Funeral Honors, are a free DoD program honoring eligible veterans with a flag folding, Taps, and a uniformed detail, arranged via the funeral director or VA; benefits also include VA burial plots, grave markers, and memorial items like the Presidential Memorial Certificate, all intended to recognize their service and sacrifice. 

We are honored to assist families in arranging Military Funeral Honors that reflect the dignity, respect, and gratitude owed to those who served our nation. This solemn tribute ensures that each eligible veteran is recognized with the ceremonial traditions that symbolize courage, duty, and sacrifice, offering comfort and pride to loved ones during a difficult time.

Our funeral directors work closely with the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate every detail seamlessly. From the presence of a uniformed honor guard to the careful folding and presentation of the American flag and the sounding of Taps, each element is handled with precision and reverence, allowing families to focus on remembrance and reflection.

Key Funeral Honor

  • Honor Detail: At least two uniformed service members,
    with one from the veteran’s branch.
  • Flag Folding: The U.S. flag is ceremonially folded into
    a triangle and presented to the next-of-kin.
  • Taps: Played by a bugler or from a high-quality recording.
  • Rifle Salute & Pallbearers: May be provided by (VSOs)
    Veterans Service Organizations or volunteer groups. 
A military funeral scene featuring a casket draped with an American flag, surrounded by floral arrangements and a group of honor guard in uniform.

How to Request Honors

  • Inform the Funeral Director: Tell them you want military honors for the veteran.
  • Provide Discharge Papers: You’ll need the veteran’s DD-214 or other
    (separation documents) to verify eligibility.
  • Contact VA: The VA National Cemetery Administration can help arrange honors
    for burials in VA cemeteries.

Eligibility

  • Most be honorably discharged veterans, including retirees and reservists, are eligible.
  • Those discharged under dishonorable conditions or convicted of certain capital crimes are generally not eligible. 
“A grieving couple dressed in black standing together in a cemetery, holding flowers and looking toward a gravesite.”

Other VA Burial & Memorial Benefits

  • VA Cemetery: Burial in a national or state veterans’ cemetery, often at no cost.
  • Grave Marker: A government-furnished headstone or marker.
  • Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC): 
    A signed certificate from the President to honor the veteran.
  • Burial Allowance: Financial assistance for funeral and burial costs. 

In addition to the ceremonial honors, we guide families through the available VA benefits, including burial plots in national or state veterans cemeteries, government-furnished headstones or markers, and memorial items such as the Presidential Memorial Certificate. These lasting tributes serve as a meaningful reminder of a veteran’s service, ensuring their legacy is preserved and honored for generations to come.