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Military Works to Step Up Standards at Funerals for Vets
DOD is teaming up with veterans groups to bring a new level of honor to military funerals.
Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy, Charles Abell says the Department of Defense, with the help of partners like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and others, has launched the Authorized Provider Program in order to train the staff needed to beef up the amount of military presence at veterans' funerals.
Abell says it just makes sense. "Rendering honor to these vets is the right thing to do. It's a fulfillment of a commitment to the nation in return for their service."
Volunteers would receive the training needed to perform on rifle volley teams or act as pallbearers or color guards. He says, "They would be trained by the local installation commander and once they've completed the training, they would go to the funerals and provide whatever assistance they could."
While the Pentagon has always encouraged active military participation at soldiers' funerals, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 now mandates it. And Abell says they are ready.
"The minimum honor that will be provided upon request is two military personnel, one of them representing the service of the deceased veteran, a bugler, if a bugler is not available, a high quality recording of Taps and a flag, which would be folded and then presented to the next of kin."
He adds that the Defense Department hopes to expand what it can offer the families of deceased vets by, "having a rifle squad, having a number of pallbearers, having a color guard, bugler and a representative from the service of the deceased to present the flag--the closer we can come to that for every veteran, clearly the better off we are."
Any vet who served Uncle Sam "honorably" is deserving of honors. Families just need to put in a request, giving the service as much advanced notice as possible. Uncle Sam then foots the entire bill.
Abell says all parties are on board and enthusiastic about doing their part. He says, "Feedback from all corners is very positive. The funeral directors are delighted. The veteran service organizations are excited."
For more information on requesting honors for a veteran, simply click here.
http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/
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