It is critical for family members who want military funeral honors to tell the funeral director, who can make the request for them. The honors are not automatic. The family should have access to the veteran's discharge papers (DD Form 214). Department of Defense (DoD) policy is to provide a minimum of a two-person uniformed detail, and one servicemember must represent the veteran's branch of service. The core elements include playing taps, folding the American flag and presenting the flag to the family. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also offers other benefits, such as headstones. For more information, visit the VA National Cemetery Administration website.

For more on burial and memorial benefits, visit the Military.com Memorial section.