Rat187
NES Member
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Military funerals and cremation
- Thread starter Joe G
- Start date
Quiggy
NES Member
Go to the VA website and search for
It can save a lot of time, when the time comes...
VA Form 40-10007, APPLICATION FOR PRE-NEED ...
https://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/va40-10007.pdfIt can save a lot of time, when the time comes...
cockpitbob
NES Member
My dad joined the navy for WWII and left a CPO. Eight years ago, at the age of 93 we planted him in a family plot in a non-military cemetery with military honors. Simple, with Tapps off in the distance. When the flag was folded and presented to Mom with that little speech about a grateful nation, I think the only reason I didn't completely lose it was my 2 teenage sons were there.
I'm very grateful to those who take the time to perform these services. I told that to the crew. The guy in charge looked a little moist eyed when he said it was his honor.
(where's that box of tissues)
I'm very grateful to those who take the time to perform these services. I told that to the crew. The guy in charge looked a little moist eyed when he said it was his honor.
(where's that box of tissues)
I thanked the corporal in charge of my grandmother's detail. He seemed a little surprised; I got the impression most families didn't talk to the detail at all. And neither did the rest of my family, actually, as if they were a part of the scenery.
He did a good job. The man who conducted the ceremony was a retired naval aviator, and he made a point of contacting the corporal's unit and passing on everyone's appreciation. I'm sure it mattered quite a bit.
cockpitbob
NES Member
That's disappointing to hear most families treat the detail like hired help. My older boy (18 at the time) walked 25 yards down hill to talk with the bugler. One of those small proud moments.
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I wouldn't say "hired help." I think a lot of civilians just aren't sure whether it's proper to talk to military men when they're on duty. It wasn't disrespect, just confusion.
Sauer Grapes
NES Member
My Dad and Mom are interred at Bourne National Cemetary. They prearranged everything. They first chose Arlington
National, then changed to more local. I was amazed at how seamless the process was. The flag presentation was
a tear jerker, but a proud moment.
National, then changed to more local. I was amazed at how seamless the process was. The flag presentation was
a tear jerker, but a proud moment.
tuna
NES Member
No one showed for my Dad's funeral, (Marines, Korean War). I was pulled out of the NCO Academy to go home and bury him.
I was in my Air Force Class Service Uniform and since I was there anyway, the funeral director and I folded the flag and I presented it to my mom.
Come to think of it, no one showed for my Uncle's funeral either (WW2, Coast Guard) and it was the funeral director and I again folding the flag, which I gave to my cousin.
I was on funeral detail as a trainee at Ft Devens, glad I remembered enough to not look like an ass.
I was in my Air Force Class Service Uniform and since I was there anyway, the funeral director and I folded the flag and I presented it to my mom.
Come to think of it, no one showed for my Uncle's funeral either (WW2, Coast Guard) and it was the funeral director and I again folding the flag, which I gave to my cousin.
I was on funeral detail as a trainee at Ft Devens, glad I remembered enough to not look like an ass.
graphite
NES Member
My experience is 4 decades old so I've no idea how consistent it is today. Back then, every family that requested a funeral detail, got the whole show - Every. Single. One. Pallbearers, rifle squad, bugler, OIC presenting the flag with the shell casings inside to the family .
Of course this is when the Army was Yuge compared to today - double the size it is now. And this is when there were quite a LOT of WW2 veterans hitting their golden years.
Funeral detail duty constantly rotated among the battalions on post. If your BN had the duty, two details were trained in case the primary caught a funeral and another came in around the same time. My company got the duty twice and did three funerals combined all for WW2 vets. Two were for NCOs and one for an officer. I was in the firing squad for two of them. We were always told not to approach the family or engage with them out of respect, as you would imagine. I don't think any one of us thought we were the hired help. Even as a bunch of teenager/early 20 somethings we were humbled to be able to honor these WW2 vets. The families were dealing with their grief and we never expected them to engage with us.
On one of the NCO funerals, which was quite far from post and required us to stay overnight in a hotel, when we concluded the service, one of the veteran's sisters made it a point to thank every soldier in the detail. As you may know the firing squad and bugler stand some distance away, and even in that hot summer sun, we watched her trudge out to us in her black dress and thank us for honoring her brother. Talking about it on the drive back, you could tell every guy appreciated the importance of our responsibility to do this for the families.
In the 90s after the big RIF, I heard how things changed with sometimes no one showing up or maybe just a couple of Legion guys. It's a shame as the full service is such a great thing for the families.
Where were you?
If you're near an active post, you still have a great chance of getting a decent detail. If the only kind of military establishment within 500 miles is a National Guard armory six towns away, you get what you get.
graphite
NES Member
Ft. Hood. They'd cover anywhere in central TX. Even as far as Dallas, possibly further.