Military Flag Folding Ceremony Funeral

A sign of honor.

Military flag folding ceremony funeral.

The eighth fold. The military funeral s flag folding ceremony each funeral service is unique to those experiencing the loss of a loved one and also serves as a special tribute to the deceased. Va policy on flag folding recitation of 13 fold ceremony. Department of veterans affairs the flag folding ceremony.

An american flag drapes the casket of deceased veterans to honor the memory of their service to their country. A military funeral in the united states is a memorial or burial rite conducted by the united states armed forces for a soldier marine sailor coast guardsman or airman who died in battle a veteran or other prominent military figures or a president a military funeral may feature guards of honor the firing of volley shots as a salute drumming and other military elements with a flag. Flag is folded at the grave site of a veteran. Taps now is played by the military at burial and memorial services to accompany the lowering of the flag and to signal the lights out command at day s end.

The military funeral honors program includes traditions within the funeral honors intended to express deep gratitude for those who have served our nation. Presentation of the american flag by the funeral director. This seventh mark of honor pays tribute to service members. The ceremonial folding and presentation of that flag is a moving tribute of lasting importance to the veteran s family.

Psalm 23 4 is at the heart of this fold as it symbolizes that the departed veteran has entered the valley of the shadow of death and that he or she will see the eternal light. From the folding of the flag to the sounding of taps here is a guide to what you can expect during military funeral honors. So there s no protocol to worry about when handling a funeral flag after the presentation ceremony. Army infantry regulations by 1891 required taps to be played at military funeral ceremonies.

The flag is placed on a closed casket so the union blue field is at the head and over the left shoulder of the deceased. To ensure burial services at the 143 national cemeteries operated by the department of veterans affairs reflect the wishes of veterans. A united states burial casket flag drapes the casket of deceased veterans to honor the memory of their service to the country. Military funerals have elements not found in civilian funerals which allow those in attendance to recognize the veteran s service and patriotism.

It is because of the armed forces that this nation and its flag are protected from her enemies. Some insist the flag is to remain folded while others choose to display it unfolded. The ceremonial folding and presentation of the flag is a moving tribute of lasting importance to the veteran s family.