Military Funeral Honors & Planning Checklist
Your legal right to military funeral honors under 10 U.S.C. § 1491: every eligible veteran receives military funeral honors upon request. Understand your authorized team size, required steps, and generate a print-ready PDF instructions sheet for your family and funeral director.
Provided by Federal Law
UPON REQUEST, all eligible veterans receive military funeral honors provided by law. It does not happen automatically — next of kin or the funeral director must formally request the detail.
Who Qualifies
Any veteran who served at least one day of active duty (outside of training only) and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Eligibility does not include reservists who only attended trainings. You do not need to be active duty at the time to receive your military funeral with honors.
Every Eligible Veteran
Every eligible veteran receives full military funeral honors — the playing of Taps, the folding and presentation of the U.S. burial flag, and a uniformed Honor Guard detail. You do not need to be active duty at the time to receive your military funeral with honors.
Every Veteran Gets Full Military Honors — Here's How:
Every eligible veteran gets full military honors. Eligibility does not include reservists who only attended trainings — you must have served at least one day of active duty service outside of training and received an other than dishonorable discharge. You do not need to be active duty at the time to receive your military funeral with honors. Just reach out to your local American Legion or VFW Post, and they handle the coordination with the Military.
Full military honors protocol: casket team escort, rifle volleys, Taps, and solemn presentation of the burial flag to next of kin.
Enter service record
Name, rank, branch, era, and DD-214 status to verify 10 U.S.C. § 1491 eligibility.
Arrange full military honors
Reach out to your local American Legion or VFW Post — they coordinate with the Military for the full Honor Guard.
Download print-ready PDF
Receive a personalized checklist ready to hand to your funeral director and Nancy.
Every eligible veteran receives full military funeral honors — by law.
Eligibility does not include reservists who only attended trainings — you must have served at least one day of active duty service outside of training and received an other than dishonorable discharge. You do not need to be active duty at the time to receive your military funeral with honors. The playing of Taps, the folding and presentation of the United States burial flag, and a uniformed Honor Guard detail are provided upon request.
How to arrange it: Simply reach out to your local American Legion or VFW Post. They will coordinate directly with the Military to arrange the full Honor Guard — including ceremonial rifle volleys and the casket team.
Your Personalized Checklist
Fill in the details on the left, then download a print-ready PDF with your veteran's full military honors protocol (10 U.S.C. § 1491), ceremony wishes, and next-of-kin contacts.
Generated locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded or stored. Your selections are sent privately to Nancy (NPN #22085479) for your complimentary case review.
Every eligible veteranreceives full military funeral honors — Taps, flag presentation, and a uniformed Honor Guard detail. Eligibility requires at least one day of active duty outside of training and an other than dishonorable discharge (reservists who only attended trainings do not qualify). You do not need to be active duty at the time. Reach out to your local American Legion or VFW Post; they coordinate directly with the Military.
Prefer a guided walkthrough?
Nancy will review your checklist, verify VA burial eligibility, and coordinate your Freedom of Choice™ certificate — at no cost.
Breakdown of Funeral & Cremation Costs
Whether your family chooses a traditional burial or cremation, see exact itemized costs today — and how 30 years of inflation compound those expenses. Toggle between options to compare.
$12,000 – $14,000
Includes professional fees, casket, embalming, ceremony, cemetery plot, vault, and monument with all associated expenses.
3.43% – 4.0%
Inflation between 1913 and 2022 averaged 3.43% per year. What costs $12,000 today will more than double across your family's planning horizon.
$32,979 – $41,542
Burial climbs from $12,000 to nearly $33,000–$41,500+. A level-premium Freedom of Choice™ policy keeps pace with true costs.
Where the Money Goes: Burial Itemized
Funeral homes must provide an itemized General Price List (GPL) by federal law. Here is how a standard traditional burial breaks down:
Professional Services & Basic Fee
Funeral director and staff basic services fee (mandatory non-declinable fee)
Casket (Metal, Wood, or Specialized)
Standard metal, bronze, or hardwood casket selected for burial
Embalming & Body Preparation
Embalming, cosmetizing, dressing, and casketing services
Funeral Ceremony & Viewing Facilities
Use of funeral home chapel or staff for visitation and ceremony
Hearse, Service Van & Transport
Transfer of remains from place of passing and transport to cemetery
Cemetery Plot & Opening/Closing Grave
Cemetery internment rights, gravedigging, and vault installation fee
Outer Burial Vault / Grave Liner
Required by most cemeteries to prevent ground settling
Memorial Headstone & Installation
Upright monument or flat marker with custom engraving
Flowers, Programs, Obituary & Clergy
Casket floral spray, printed service programs, obituary fees, clergy honorarium
Estimated Total Funeral Expense
All associated goods and services
No. A common misconception is that the VA covers 100% of all expenses. While the VA provides burial in a national cemetery or a niche for cremated remains and an urn or flag, the VA does NOT pay the private funeral home or crematory for removal, refrigeration, cremation retort, memorial ceremonies, or urn purchases. Families are often presented with a $5,000–$14,000+ invoice due within 24 to 48 hours before service.
Projected Funeral Cost by Year
Move the slider to see how inflation compounds a $12,000 funeral over the coming 30 years:
$18,588.87
$21,326.69
| Year | 3.43% Inflation | 4.0% Inflation |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $12,402.09 | $13,320.59 |
| 2024 | $12,827.48 | $13,853.41 |
| 2025 | $13,267.46 | $14,407.55 |
| 2026 | $13,722.54 | $14,983.85 |
| 2027 | $14,193.22 | $15,583.20 |
| 2028 | $14,680.05 | $16,206.53 |
| 2029 | $15,183.57 | $16,854.79 |
| 2030 | $15,704.37 | $17,528.99 |
| 2031 | $16,243.03 | $18,230.14 |
| 2032 | $16,800.16 | $18,959.35 |
Lock In Your Protection Before Costs Double
Whether you prefer traditional burial or cremation, Nancy Samantha Aguilar — a field underwriting agent — will help you apply for level-premium Freedom of Choice™ coverage through the AO Globe Life Home Office. Once approved, your family receives cash within 24–48 hours — without draining personal savings or leaving debt.
What Happens After You Die?
A clear, step-by-step walkthrough of everything that happens from the moment of death through final disposition and estate settlement — so your family is never caught off guard.
Official Pronouncement of Death
Before anything else can happen, a qualified professional must officially pronounce and record the time of death.
Who Can Pronounce Death
Death may be officially pronounced by any of the following:
- Physician
- Hospice nurse (in hospice care)
- Coroner or medical examiner
- ER physician (hospital death)
What Happens
Once death is pronounced:
- Time of death is recorded
- Body is released to the funeral home (or medical examiner if required)
Important: If the death is unexpected, violent, or unattended, the case is usually referred to the medical examiner or coroner, which can delay funeral arrangements.
No veteran left behind. Your checklist is the first step. Nancy will pair it with a Freedom of Choice™ certificate so your family can grieve in peace — not in panic.