Military Funeral Honors Order of Service Template

The order of service

1. 01Religious or memorial service

   30 to 60 min

   Held at a church, funeral home, or chapel according to the family's tradition. Honors are rendered separately at the committal.

2. 02Procession to the gravesite

   The casket is escorted to the committal site. At national cemeteries, families are typically directed to a committal shelter rather than to the grave itself.

3. 03Committal service

   5 to 10 min

   Brief remarks and prayer by the officiant or chaplain.

4. 04Rifle volley

   When an honor guard is available, three volleys are fired. This is a salute and is distinct from a 21-gun salute, which is a separate ceremonial honor.

5. 05Sounding of Taps

   1 min

   Played by a bugler when available, or by a ceremonial bugle. Attendees stand; those in uniform salute.

6. 06Folding of the flag

   3 to 5 min

   The flag is folded thirteen times into a triangle by the honor detail, deliberately and in silence.

7. 07Presentation of the flag

   The flag is presented to the next of kin, kneeling, with the words of appreciation spoken quietly on behalf of the service branch and the nation.

8. 08Closing and dismissal

   A final word from the officiant, and the family is invited to remain or to move to the reception.

Program wording you can copy

Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details. Every block below is free to copy and use.

In Loving Memory of
[Rank] [Full Name], [Branch]
[Birth date] – [Date of death]

[Years of service] · [Conflict, unit, or station]

[Venue]
[Date] at [time]

Military Service
[Full Name] served in the United States [Branch] from [year] to [year], [including service in [conflict, station, or unit]]. [He/She] was honorably discharged as [rank].

Military Funeral Honors

Following the committal, military honors will be rendered by the United States [Branch]. Honors include the sounding of Taps and the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the family. Guests are invited to stand during the honors. Those who have served may render a hand salute.

Taps was arranged in 1862 and has been sounded at military funerals since. It lasts less than a minute. The silence that follows it is part of the honor.

The family wishes to thank the [branch] honor guard, [VFW or American Legion post], and all who served alongside [Name].

How this fits on a folded program

A standard funeral program is a single sheet folded once, giving four panels. Here is where each part usually goes.

• Front cover: photograph, rank and name, branch insignia if the family wishes, dates, and years of service
• Inside left: the order of the service, followed by the honors sequence
• Inside right: obituary, with a short paragraph devoted to service history
• Back cover: an explanation of the honors, thanks to the honor guard, and reception details

Practical notes

• Eligibility and arrangements are handled through the funeral director, who requests honors on the family's behalf. Have a copy of the DD-214 available, as it is the document normally used to establish eligibility.
• Verify rank, branch, dates, and any decorations against the DD-214 before printing. Veterans' organizations and fellow service members notice errors, and corrections after printing are not possible.
• A rifle volley requires an honor guard detail, often provided by a VFW or American Legion post, and is not guaranteed at every service. Confirm availability before describing it in the program.
• Burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone, and a burial flag are provided at no cost for eligible veterans. Ask the funeral director which benefits apply.

Questions families ask

Who is eligible for military funeral honors?

Eligibility generally extends to veterans who served in the active military and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, along with members and former members of the Selected Reserve. The funeral director requests honors on the family's behalf, and a DD-214 is the document typically used to confirm eligibility. Confirm the current requirements with the funeral home or the relevant service branch.

What is said during the flag presentation?

The presenting service member kneels and speaks quietly to the next of kin, offering the flag on behalf of the President, the service branch, and a grateful nation as a token of appreciation for honorable and faithful service. The exact wording is set by each branch. It is spoken softly and is meant for the family, not the assembly.

Is a 21-gun salute part of a military funeral?

No. What is rendered at a funeral is a three-volley rifle salute, usually by a detail of seven riflemen. A 21-gun salute is an artillery honor reserved for heads of state and certain senior officials. The two are frequently confused, and explaining the difference in the program is genuinely helpful to guests.