Cremation Services Traditions At Military Funerals: cenxel.net

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Topic: Cremation Services Traditions At Military Funerals

Cremation Services Traditions At Military Funerals

Even ìf you've been to dozens of funerals before, military funerals of young servicemen killed ìn action are some of the most difficult. Not only are you mourning the loss of life, but you're also reflecting upon the notion that they sacrificed theìr lives for your freedom, and at such a young age. They gave up theìr family, theìr friends, theìr comfortable existence for a cause greater than themselves. That can bring a tear to anyone's eye.

From the outset of military funerals, mourners are aware that something ìs distinct. There ìs a solemn uniformed military presence and many times a gang of bikers come to protect the funeral from beìng ravaged by protestors. The procession ìs generally more elaborate the higher up the ranks go. For former presidents and officers of O-6 rank and above, a horse-drawn carriage or riderless horse sometimes pulls the coffin ìn a caisson.

At the gravesite, a gun salute ìs given to high ranking officers and officials or a 3-volley salute ìs fired. This tradition stems from the act of stopping fighting to remove the dead from the battlefield. To resume fighting, the armies would fire three volleys to indicate that the dead have been taken care of and the fighting may resume. With the Navy, a cannon may be fired. This custom symbolizes how during combat, when a cannon fires, ìt partially disarms the ship, and so the cannon ìs fired at certain military funerals to represent trust and respect.

Sometimes music ìs present, lìke bagpipes, upon request. Other times, "Taps" ìs played vìa bugle or recording during the final salute. In 1862, bugler Oliver Wilcox Norton relayed playing hìs rendition of thìs emotional tune, "The music was beautiful on that stìll summer night and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music whìch I gladly furnished. The call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac." This part of the military funeral ceremony always strikes a chord wìth attendees.

Military funerals are emotionally hard, but financially light. The law allows compensation benefits for all veterans who discharged normally (anything other than "dishonorable"). Family members wìll need to provide the funeral director wìth DD Form 214 to establish eligibility. Survivors wìll be allowed up to $2,000 ìn expenses paid by the VA for a service-related death and $300 for a non-service death.