Military Funeral Honors

Howard & Jones recognizes and holds a deep appreciation for the sacrifices our military men and women and their families make to defend our great country.  Their service and sacrifice should be recognized and honored during the funeral service.  We will do everything we can to make sure your loved one receives the military funeral honors they are entitled to by US law.  Below you will find more detailed information about military funeral honors and entitlement guidelines. If you should have any further questions, please call us anytime – we would love to be of service to you.

Performing military funeral honors is one way express the profound gratitude our nation has to the brave men and women who have faithfully guarded the country in both war and peace time. This ceremonial tribute is the final demonstration a grateful nation can provide to its veterans’ families. The tradition of providing military funeral honors, in some form, began in ancient Greece and Rome. The current protocol of military funeral honors today has its roots in these ancient ceremonies as well other historical American experiences. U.S. law now mandates the rendering of military funeral honors for all eligible veterans if requested by the family, and shall be provided at no cost by the Department of Defense. Howard & Jones can assist families in requesting military funeral honors.

As provided by law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of not less than two members of the Armed Forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent branch of service of the deceased veteran.  The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of taps. Taps will be played by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording.

Please be aware that today there are so few buglers available that the military often cannot provide one. Should there be a need, Howard & Jones can supply an official taps recording or assist in locating local area musicians.

• Military members on active duty
  
• Military retirees
  
• Members and former members of the Selected Reserve
  
• Eligible U.S. veterans of any war
  
• Other U.S. veterans who served at least one term of enlistment and separated under conditions other than dishonorable
  

• Individuals discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
  
• Individuals sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole for a federal or state capital offense
  
• Other explicit circumstances