What to Expect a Veteran’s Funeral

Veteran funerals are the most stirring and patriotic of the various types of services organized by funeral homes in Albertson, NY. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a small intimate gathering or large in scale; the experience is very moving.

Veteran or military funerals are more for service members than civilians. So, for a start, you need formal attire and have to behave respectfully throughout the service.

There are two types of services for a military honors funeral: standard and full. Below are what to expect when attending the service.

Standard Military Honors Service

This service is for enlisted men and women, and it typically involves —

A military chaplain presides over the service

The military chaplain also serves as the counselor and pastor. He will officiate the funeral service and provide emotional support and spiritual guidance like a civilian preacher.

A United States flag is draped over the casket

Instead of a traditional funeral pall, the casket is draped with the flag of the United States. The blue field of stars is placed at the casket’s head over the decedent’s left shoulder.

An honor guard pays respects

By law, military units have to provide, at minimum, a two-person uniform detail that serves as the honor guard.

The honor guard will present arms, salute the deceased and read aloud any military honors earned by the deceased.

They will also perform the flag holding ceremony, turning it into a tri-corner shape and presenting it to the next of kin.

The playing of ‘Taps’

Also known as Butterfield’s Lullaby, the famous melody is performed at the end of the ceremony.

During this time, everyone is expected to stand and face the flag. Military personnel will salute, and civilians place their right hand on their chest.

Full Military Honors

A full military honor service has all the elements of a standard service, as well as the following —

• Fired salute for star-ranking officers. The number of gun salutes depends on the deceased’s rank.
• A military band and an escort platoon. Their size also depends on the rank of the officer.

Finally, if the deceased is a colonel or captain, they will receive a caparisoned, riderless horse at the service, alongside all other honors.

Veteran’s Funeral Etiquette

As you can see, a veteran’s funeral is a serious affair. It follows that there are certain etiquettes to follow.

Some of them are —

• Men should wear a dark suit and tie, and women should wear a dark dress, suit, skirt, and blouse.
• A woman’s dress or skirt should be of appropriate length. Ladies should display no cleavage at the funeral.
• Civilians should never salute. Instead, they should remove any headgear and place it over their hearts.
• Immediate family members sit in the front row. Everyone else should stay seated throughout the entire service unless directed to stand.

These veteran funeral customs have a long history. We take pride in organizing a respectful ceremony for the people who devoted their lives to serving our country. If you need an Albertson, NY funeral home to plan one for a loved one, or have additional questions, visit or give us a call today.