 MILITARY HONORS
The rendering of Military Funeral Honors is
a way to show the Nation's deep gratitude to those who, in times of
war and peace, have faithfully defended our country. This
ceremonial paying of respect is the final demonstration a grateful
Nation can provide to the veteran's families.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
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Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
-
Former military members who served on active duty and departed
under conditions other than dishonorable.
-
Former military members who completed at least one term of
enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the
Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than
dishonorable.
-
Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due
to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
THE CEREMONY
The
core elements of the funeral honors ceremony, which will be
conducted are:
-
Flag folding
-
Flag presentation
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Playing of Taps
The
veteran’s parent Service representative will present the flag.
21-GUN SALUTE
We
can arrange for the local VFW to provide a 21-Gun salute either here
at the mortuary or graveside. This salute is available to any
honorably discharged veteran.
We
can also call upon an honor guard from a specific branch of the
service at your request.
HISTORY OF TAPS
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so
easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than Taps. Up to the
Civil War, the traditional call at day's end was a tune, borrowed
from the French, called Lights Out. In July of 1862, in the
aftermath of the bloody Seven Days battles, hard on the loss of 600
men and wounded himself, Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield
called the brigade bugler to his tent. He thought "Lights Out" was
too formal and he wished to honor his men. Oliver Wilcox Norton, the
bugler, tells the story, "...showing me some notes on a staff
written in pencil on the back of an envelope, (he) asked me to sound
them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as
written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and
shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to
me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound
that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call. The
music was beautiful on that still 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 which I gladly furnished. The call was gradually taken up
through the Army of the Potomac." This more
emotive and powerful Taps was soon adopted throughout the military.
In 1874 It was officially recognized by the U.S. Army. It became
standard at military funeral ceremonies in 1891. There is something
singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful
call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its
echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to
vibrate in the air.
- from an article by Master
Sergeant Jari A Villanueva, USAF |
