A military funeral is a specially orchestrated funeral given by a country's military for a veteran, a soldier who died in battle, or another prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards of honor, the firing of volley shots as a salute, drumming and other military elements, with a flag draping over the coffin. On occasions deceased soldiers have been accorded military funerals by their enemies.
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Military funerals in the United States
In the United States, the United States Army Military District of Washington (MDW) is responsible for providing military funerals. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the program for instituting a dignified military funeral with full honors to the nation's veterans.
As of January 1, 2000, Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act mandates that the United States Armed Forces shall provide the rendering of honors in a military funeral for any eligible veteran if requested by his or her family. As mandated by federal law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of no less than two members of the Armed Forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent armed service of the deceased veteran. The honor guard detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the flag of the United States to the next of kin and the playing of Taps which will be played by a lone bugler, if available, or by audio recording. Today, there are so few buglers available that the United States Armed Forces often cannot provide one. However, federal law allows Reserve and National Guard units to assist with funeral honors duty when necessary.
Generally, federal law allows for military funeral honors for all veterans who were discharged under circumstances "other than dishonorable." Funeral directors will require the veteran's DD Form 214 to establish eligibility.
Those who are eligible for military funerals and full honors in the United States include the following:
- Sitting and former Presidents of the United States, usually in conjunction with a state funeral.
- Active duty or Selected Reserve in the United States Armed Forces.
- Former active duty who departed under conditions other than dishonorable in the United States Armed Forces.
- Former enlisted servicemen or servicewomen who completed at least one term or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former servicemen or servicewomen who were discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Military funerals include some or all of the following components depending on the status of the deceased (active, retired, veteran, rank/occupation):
- A military chaplain for family members.
- Honor guards, who may either serve in a ceremonial role over the remains of the deceased or serve as pallbearers.
- A coffin occassionally transported via a horse-drawn limbers and caissons. However, many military funerals transport a coffin using a hearse.
- A coffin draped in the flag of the United States and as a pall.
- For funerals of sitting and former presidents as well as officers of O-6 rank and above, a comparisoned, riderless horse, symbolizing a fallen leader, will follow the limbers and caissons.
- In special circumstances, fighter jets in missing man formation by the United States Air Force may perform an aerial flyover.
- The formation of a rifle party consisting of an odd number of service members, between 3 to 7, will fire a 3-volley salute.
- The playing of Taps performed by a lone bugler or an audio recording, at a distance 30 to 50 yards from the grave site while a “Final Salute” is given.
The flag of the United States is prepared for presentation to the next-of-kin.
- The flag of the United States will be folded by honor guards and then presented to the next-of-kin by saying,
| “ | As a representative of the United States Army, it is my high privilege to present you this flag. Let it be a symbol of the grateful appreciation this nation feels for the distinguished service rendered to our country and our flag by your loved one. | ” |
Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin as a keepsake after its use during the military funeral service. When there is no next-of-kin, the flag is presented to a friend making a request for it. The flag for a serviceman or servicewoman who dies during active duty is provided by his or her branch of service. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides a flag at no cost, to drape the coffin or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the United States Armed Forces.
A full honors military funeral will include an escort platoon and military band, as traditionally observed during a state funeral.
Military funerals in other parts of the world
- In Germany, Ludwig Uhland's song "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden" is an integral part of a military funeral.
- The British army carries reversed arms at military funerals
- Canadian military funerals involve many rituals seen in other parts of the world. The Royal Canadian Horse Artillery use a 25-pounder gun and limber as a funeral vehicle, for example. Volleys are fired over the grave when the body is interred. Muffled drums are played during the procession to the graveside. Medals and insignia are carried into the funeral service on a velvet pillow, along with the deceased's headdress.
- Countries in the Commonwealth play the "Last Post" during military funerals.
- Military funerals are also used by paramilitaries, usually following a similar, or traditional procedure. The Provisional Irish Republican Army would usually follow a procedure similar to that of the United States, whereby an Honor Guard would be formed by volunteers of the fallen's Battalion or Active Service Unit. The consistency of this approach would vary depending on the presence on the British Army or the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Police Service of Northern Ireland. During the funeral of Bobby Sands, the volunteers who fired the volley of shots over his coffin were said to have 'emerged' from amongst the people, and then to disappear via the same route. Coffins would traditionally be draped in the Irish Tricolour, as well as the Starry Plough (although the latter was more common within the Irish National Liberation Army). On top of the flag(s) would be a pair of gloves and a beret, all of which would be presented to the next of kin.
- In Poland, the last fragment of Władysław Tarnowski's song „Śpij, kolego, w ciemnym grobie, Niech się Polska przyśni Tobie.”[1] (eng. Sleep in a dark tomb, our mate, Dream of Poland in your state.) part of the song Jak to na wojence ładnie (eng. How nice it is in a little war[2])[3] is an integral part of a military funeral..
- After the 2006 Lebanon war, Hezbollah draped coffins containing their dead in Hezbollah flags with flowers on top. They were given a funeral according to Shiite Muslim traditions, then buried in their hometowns.
References
- ^ Polish text "Jak to na wojence ładnie". http://pl.wikisource.org/wiki/Jak_to_na_wojence_%C5%82adnie. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ also translated as: How this on war nicely or Oh! What a lovely war
- ^ "Jak to na wojence ładnie mp3". http://odsiebie.com/pokaz/2124148---618f.html. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
Images and sounds
- Sample of "Taps" (.wav)
- Image of a caisson
- Image of a caisson
- Image of a military funeral honor team folding flag
- Image of a folded flag
External links
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