The Funeral Directors are a key to the success of the Department's initiatives to improve the delivery of Military Funeral Honors for veterans. The Funeral Director's understanding of how to obtain the honors, use of the toll free phone system to obtain honors and awareness that only the Funeral Director should request honors, will significantly support the entire effort. The cooperation and support of the Nation's Funeral Directors in this process are essential for the successful delivery of Military Funeral Honors for those who have faithfully served their country.
The freedom this Nation cherishes is a credit to the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. The Department's goal is to provide professional and meaningful Military Funeral Honors for every eligible veteran recognizing their contributions to this freedom and the sacrifices they and their families have made for this Nation.
"Honoring Those Who Served" is the Department of Defense program for providing dignified Military Funeral Honors to veterans who have defended our Nation. While Military Funeral Honors is a long standing tradition within the Armed Forces, this program is in response to a new law governing funeral honors for eligible veterans. The Department of Defense has implemented changes to comply with the new law and has launched a series of efforts to enhance and improve the quality of Military Funeral Honors for veterans. "Honoring Those Who Served" represents an important step forward in honoring our Nation's veterans.
The Department of Defense is committed to providing, upon request, a respectful and dignified Military Funeral Honors ceremony as is outlined in the law. The Military Services may provide additional elements in keeping with their military traditions.
In addition to complying with the requirements of the law, the Department of Defense took additional steps to further improve the delivery of Military Funeral Honors. In discussions with the Veterans Service and Funeral Directors Associations, there have been a number of suggestions on ways to improve the process of Military Funeral Honors for veterans. The Department of Defense has undertaken specific efforts to effect these improvements. The Veteran Service Organizations and Funeral Directors play an important role in this process.
Toll Free Telephone Number
This effort focuses on making it easier to request Military Funeral Honors. The Department of Defense has established a toll free line (1-877-MIL-HONR) for use by Funeral Directors to request honors. This system has been in operation since January 1, 2000. By using this number, Funeral Directors can reach the regional military offices to arrange for Military Funeral Honors ceremonies. The toll free line will provide Funeral Directors with a single point of contact to obtain the necessary information rather than calling various places. This will reduce the time spent by Funeral Directors to obtain the information they need to honor families' requests for Military Funeral Honors. At the recommendation of members of Veterans Service Organizations, the Department has designed the toll free number for Funeral Directors only. Family members should work with their Funeral Directors if they desire Military Funeral Honors.
Military Funeral Honors Web Site
The final phase of the Department's improved outreach is the development of a web site. The Department of Defense web site, located at Department of Defense Funeral Honors Website, contains pertinent information for the general public and Funeral Directors about Military Funeral Honors, including a step-by-step procedure on the process to request honors. The web site will have links to other relevant web sites such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and links to current legislation on Military Funeral Honors.
Additional Information for Funeral Directors
For additional information on Funeral Director-related resources, call Air Force Mortuary Affairs at (800) 531-5803.