Military Funeral Honors: What Families Should Know
Military funeral honors are a formal tribute the U.S. Department of Defense provides to eligible veterans and service members at their funeral, at no cost to the family. Since 2000, federal law has required at least a two-person uniformed detail to fold and present the American flag and play Taps, upon the family's request, at any cemetery, public or private.
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Losing someone who served is its own kind of hard. There's pride mixed in with the grief, and often a strong wish to make sure their service is remembered the way they lived it: with respect. If you're not sure whether your loved one qualifies for military honors, or what those honors actually look like, that uncertainty is completely normal.
Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services has coordinated military funeral honors for Whatcom County veterans and their families for years, working alongside honor guard units and Veterans Service Organizations to get every detail right. This article walks through what's included, who qualifies, and how to begin.
What Military Funeral Honors Include
At minimum, military funeral honors include a two-person honor guard detail, the ceremonial folding of the American flag into its tricorn shape, and the presentation of that flag to the veteran's next of kin. Taps is played by a live bugler when one is available, or by a ceremonial bugle or high-quality recording when it isn't. Either way, the tribute carries the same weight.
For some veterans, depending on service branch policy, "full honors" may add a firing party, additional uniformed pallbearers, or a chaplain from the veteran's branch. Which tier applies depends on rank, era of service, and branch policy, and Sig's works directly with the assigned honor guard unit to confirm the right level for each family.
Honors can be rendered at a graveside service, a funeral home visitation, or a memorial service, and at any cemetery, public or private, not only a national cemetery.
Who Qualifies for Military Funeral Honors
Under federal law, any veteran discharged under honorable or "under honorable conditions" terms is eligible, along with any service member who dies while on active duty. Former members of the Selected Reserve or National Guard generally qualify too, as long as they completed at least one full enlistment period or were discharged early because of a service-connected disability.
A DD Form 214, or another discharge document showing honorable service, is what establishes eligibility. Families don't need to track this down alone. Sig's can help locate or request a copy if it isn't on hand.
Honors are not available to veterans separated with a dishonorable discharge or convicted of a capital crime, but outside of those narrow exceptions, the vast majority of veterans and service members qualify.
How Sig's Coordinates Honors, Flag Presentation and the Honor Guard
Once a family lets us know their loved one served, we request honors directly from the appropriate military branch or reserve component, using the veteran's discharge paperwork to confirm eligibility. Honors should be requested as early as possible before the funeral, and Sig's builds that timeline into the arrangement conference from the start, so the ceremony fits smoothly into the rest of the service, whether that's a traditional funeral, a graveside committal, or a memorial service scheduled after cremation.
Our own team includes Ryan Christie, a funeral director and embalmer intern who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, so families arranging honors here are working with someone who understands military tradition firsthand. That matters when a family wants to make sure every detail, from the flag fold to where the honor guard stands, is handled the way their loved one would have wanted.
We coordinate honors for families throughout Whatcom County, including Ferndale and Lynden, and for border communities like Blaine.
VA Headstone and Marker Coordination for Veterans
Separate from funeral honors, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides a government headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost for eligible veterans, whether the grave is unmarked or, for veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, already carries a privately purchased marker. Bronze niche markers are also available for veterans placed in a columbarium.
Sig's does not operate an on-site cemetery, but we regularly coordinate headstone and marker requests with the VA and with local cemetery and monument providers on a family's behalf, so this benefit isn't something a grieving family has to navigate alone.
How to Begin Arranging Military Honors
The best time to raise military honors is during your first conversation with a funeral director, whether that's for an immediate need or as part of pre-planning. Let us know your loved one served, and bring any discharge paperwork you have. Sig's handles the request from there.
Honors can be added to almost any type of service, including a traditional funeral with visitation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Military Funeral Honors
What are military funeral honors?
Military funeral honors are a ceremonial tribute the U.S. Department of Defense provides to eligible veterans and service members at their funeral. The standard version includes a two-person honor guard, the folding and presentation of the American flag to next of kin, and Taps. Higher tiers add elements like a chaplain or firing party, depending on the veteran's rank and service.
Who qualifies for military funeral honors?
Any veteran discharged under honorable, or "under honorable conditions," terms qualifies, as does any service member who dies on active duty. Members of the Selected Reserve or National Guard generally qualify if they completed at least one enlistment period. A DD Form 214 or similar discharge document confirms eligibility before honors are requested.
Is there a cost for military funeral honors?
No. Military funeral honors are provided at no cost to the family, funded and staffed by the veteran's branch of service. There's no fee for the honor guard, the flag, or the playing of Taps. Sig's coordinates the request directly with the assigned military unit as part of arranging the funeral.
Can military funeral honors be held at a private cemetery?
Yes. Honors can be rendered at any cemetery, public or private, as well as at a funeral home visitation or memorial service. They aren't limited to national cemeteries. Sig's works with the honor guard to schedule the ceremony wherever the family has chosen to hold the service.
How do I request military funeral honors for a veteran?
Let your funeral director know your loved one served, and share any discharge paperwork you have, such as a DD Form 214. Sig's submits the request to the appropriate military branch or reserve component on your behalf and coordinates timing so the honors fit smoothly into the service.
If my loved one already has a headstone, can the VA still provide a marker?
Sometimes. For veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, the VA may still provide a government headstone, marker, or medallion even if the grave already has a privately purchased one, though a veteran may receive either a marker or a medallion, not both. Sig's can help coordinate this request.
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Whenever you're ready to talk about honoring a veteran's service, we're here. There's no pressure and no obligation, just a team that knows how to help, including one of our own who served. Call Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services at (360) 656-5459, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
