The basic Military Funeral Honors ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the Veteran's family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces. The Funeral Honors rendered to you, or your Veteran will be determined by the status of the Veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be:
- Full Military Honors
- 7-9 Person Detail
- Standard Honors Team Detail
When possible, at least one member of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased Veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version.
To obtain funeral honors as a Veteran or a family member of a Veteran, you must have a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Department of Defense Form 214 (discharge paperwork).
Within Nebraska, family member initiates the request for military honors by informing the funeral home the deceased is a Veteran and the Veteran would like to receive military honors. They will then complete the request and contact Military Funeral Honors directly.
The DD-214 or service documentation will then be turned over to the funeral home. The funeral director will then contact the Military Funeral Honors Zone Leader who will assign your service to one of the local Honor Guard details.
If the Funeral Home does not know how to contact Funeral Honors or if there is no funeral home is involved; to request military funeral honors, complete the
Nebraska Military Funeral Honors Request Form and email it to
ng.ne.nearng.mbx.military-funeral-honors@army.mil. Include the following information:
Deceased Name
Rank
Social Security Number
Funeral Home Information
Funeral Service Information
Where Military Honors will be Performed
Type of Internment
Any Additional Notes
Please Note: For the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard to participate, there must be service documentation showing U.S. Army service, type of discharge, length of service, and Soldier information. Other branch of service requests (
Navy,
Air Force,
Marines,
Coast Guard, or Space Force) must be processed through their respective branches first. First right of refusal is the parent branch of service of the Veteran.