Military Funeral Honors

The Hawaii National Guard Military Funeral Honors program conducts final military honors for Veterans across the state. We believe every Veteran deserves the proper tribute and our team provides the highest level of professionalism, military bearing, and execution at every military funeral we have the honor of presenting.

Military Honors allows a grateful nation to pay tribute to veterans who stood firm in defense of the United States of America in times of war and peace. Military Honors is a free entitlement for all honorably discharged veterans.

Upon the family’s request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, including folding and presenting the United States flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran’s parent service of the armed forces.

basic military funeral honors detail includes two servicemembers (one of whom must be a member of the deceased’s parent service of the armed forces) who plays Taps, folds the U.S. flag and presents the flag to the deceased next of kin.

Full military honors are reserved for certain ranks, those killed by their injuries in combat, and Medal of Honor recipients. Full military honors require 7-9 personnel to act as pallbearers, fire a rifle volley salute and perform the requisite Basic military honors duties.

Eligibility

  • Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve (NG or USAR).
  • 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 Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
  • Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Also, Veterans who have served at least 20 years, retired, KIA and /or received the Medal of Honor are entitled to Full Military Honors, consisting of a Firing Party volley, the playing of Taps, and the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag.

Some of the documents used to determined eligibility include:

Who is NOT eligible for Military Funeral Honors?

  • Any person separated from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions or whose character of service results in a bar to Veteran’s benefits  
  • Any person who was ordered to report to an induction station, but was not actually inducted into military service  
  • Any person discharged from the Selected Reserve prior to completing one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service for reasons other than a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
  • Any person who has been convicted of a state capital crime and whose conviction is final (other than a person whose sentence was commuted by the Governor of a State)  
  • Any person who is found to have committed a Federal capital crime or a State capital crime, as set forth in section 2411(c) of Title 38 U.S. Code, but has not been convicted of such crime by reason of such person not being available for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution

History
The United States Military has a time-honored tradition of honoring their fallen. On January 1, 2000, Military Funeral Honors (MFH) became a statutory benefit to all veterans with the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act. The law requires that upon a family’s request, every eligible veteran receive a Military Funeral Honors ceremony to include a two-person detail for the sounding of Taps and the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag.

Hawaii Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Mission Statement
The Army National Guard provides professional Military Honors in accordance with service tradition to all eligible Veterans when requested by an authorized representative.  Soldiers in the ARNG MFH program are selected and trained using the standards of Arlington National Cemetery.

Requesting Military Honors
A family member or authorized representative is encouraged to notify the funeral home director or service coordinator of their desire to have Military Funeral Honors rendered at the internment of their loved one. The funeral director then contacts the appropriate branch of service that the Veteran served in.

Helpful Links
To acquire a DD Form 214: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Most Veterans and their next of kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214, Certificate of Uniformed Service (separation document) and the following military service records. To do so, select the link above and scroll down to Start Request Online On the next page, select Make a new request to start the process.

Funeral Director’s and Planner’s Resources: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/leaders-service-providers/casualty-assistance/funeral-directory-and-planner-resources/

National Guard Military Funeral Honors: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Development/Army-National-Guard/Resources/Family-Services/Military-Funeral-Honors/fbclid/IwAR1EZw803JIiYC8IiUl-G3JSRvIFa_4KLLe1Q9m8dtdn-Gh7QLbbTeWnkC8/

Full military honors are reserved for certain ranks, those killed by their injuries in combat, and Medal of Honor recipients. Full military honors require 7-9 personnel to act as pallbearers, fire a rifle volley salute and perform the requisite basic military honors duties.

All Services (Hawaii) Points of Contact:

Army (Hawaii): Casualty Assistance Office (CAC) Schofield Barracks, 808-655-5124

U.S. Coast Guard (Hawaii): Email- [email protected]

Air Force (Hawaii): 808-448-0108

Navy (Hawaii): Honors and Ceremonies 808-590-8383 

Marines (Hawaii): 808-257-7712

Hawaii Army National Guard: Office phone 808-672-1223, Work cellphone 808-838-9512