Eligible veterans by law are able to obtain a free military funeral with honors.
According to the Dallas County Department of Veterans Services, an honor guard detail for an eligible veteran’s burial comprises at least two Armed Forces members, with one member representing the decreased veteran’s branch of service.
A military funeral with honors may include a 21-gun salute, but all military funerals include Armed Forces personnel folding an American flag, presenting it to the next kin, and playing TAPS.
To be eligible for a military funeral with honors, the deceased must be:
- 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 reserves and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
When requesting a military funeral for a veteran, the deceased DD 214 must verify their military service.
Typically, families request the funeral with honors when planning the burial with a funeral director. The funeral director will contact the local veterans’ groups or active military personnel to perform the funeral honors.
Additionally, federal and state burial benefits are available. The funeral director should be able to arrange those for the grieving family.
