Gold Star Family - Funeral & Memorial Information

Our mission it to provide prompt reporting, dignified and humane notification, and efficient, thorough, and compassionate assistance to family members.

The branch provides guidance to commanders, casualty assistance representatives, family assistance representatives, and many other support agencies to ensure members and their families are taken care of as expeditiously as possible in a family emergency.

Army

https://www.hrc.army.mil

Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center's (CMAOC) mission is to assist and support Army Families in an emotionally stressful time of bereavement, as well as provide training and resources to all Soldiers serving in Casualty Assistance, Notification, or Army Representative capacities, and those dedicated professionals assisting Army Family members in their time of greatest need.

Army National Guard

https://www.nationalguard.mil/Development/Army-National-Guard/Resources/Family-Services/Survivor-Services/

The Army National Guard is committed to doing all we can to support our fallen service members' families. The Army National Guard provides full support to Casualty Operations, providing Notification Officers within four hours of initial casualty reports and Assistance Officers for as long as the family needs them. The Army National Guard conducts Casualty missions for all soldiers in the Army's Active Component, Reserve and National Guard. This service honors our country's bravest by providing the necessary help and guidance to their families during a most difficult time. We recognize that their sacrifice makes our lives as free Americans possible.

Marines Corps

http://www.usmc-mccs.org/services/benefits/casualty-assistance/

The loss of a Marine is always difficult, especially for the family. Families expect to be informed of the cause and circumstances surrounding the loss of their loved one as soon as it is known. The Casualty Assistance Program is committed to ensuring the families of our fallen Marines are always treated with the utmost compassion, dignity, and honor. We actively seek to improve survivor assistance and have a demonstrated record of quick, effective action.

Navy

https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Casualty/

Navy Casualty's sole mission is to provide timely and first class casualty assistance to Navy families when a Sailor is seriously ill or injured, is placed in a duty status whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN), or is declared missing and/or Prisoner of War or dies.

Dover Air Force Base

Friends of the Fallen

https://www.friendsofthefallen.org/

We are a community-based volunteer group which provides service and assistance to families who come to Dover Air Force Base to witness the Dignified Transfer of their loved ones.

Funeral, burial

Arlington National Cemetery

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/#/

Arlington National Cemetery conducts between 27 and 30 funeral services each week day and between 6 and 8 services on Saturday. The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery honor those who have served our nation by providing a sense of beauty and peace for our guests. The rolling green hills are dotted with trees that are hundreds of years in age and complement the gardens found throughout the 624 acres of the cemetery. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

Military Funeral Honors

https://www.cem.va.gov/military_funeral_honors.asp

The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to veterans who have defended our nation.

Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial 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. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veterans' family. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. Veterans organizations may assist in providing military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.

Patriot Guard Riders

www.patriotguard.org

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.

Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

Veterans Funeral Care

www.veteransfuneralcare.com

Veterans Funeral Care was founded to help veterans and their families. Our staff is trained to handle every detail of making burial and cremation arrangements for veterans. This includes our answering questions about military protocol, assuring that legal requirements are met, and providing whatever equipment, facilities, and technical services that may be needed.

The mission of the Veterans Funeral Care is to reduce funeral costs for veterans and their families. Today in the United States, funerals through funeral homes commonly cost in excess of $10,000. Our members currently pay an average of just under $3,800. We are unique in that we provide services to veterans and their families only. Research has shown that many veterans do not receive all the benefits that they are entitled to. One call to Veterans Funeral Care and we handle all details. We apply for all VA benefits, file for Veterans Life Insurance and arrange all military honors. We take our responsibility to you very seriously. It is helpful to consider all your options and take time to ask questions before making final decisions about such an important event. It is our intent to help make the entire experience as positive as possible.

Headstone veteran medallion

Headstone Veteran Medallion

http://legion.org/veteransbenefits/79998/bronze-medallions-available-headstones

The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering bronze medallions to attach to existing, privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a deceased's status as a Veteran. The new item can be furnished instead of a traditional government headstone or marker for veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

Under federal law, eligible veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the new medallion, but not both. Veterans buried in a national or state veterans cemetery will receive a government headstone or marker of the standard design authorized at that cemetery.

Horse-drawn funeral carriage at Miramar National Cemetery

Final Honor (San Diego, CA)

www.finalhonor.net

Final Honor offers a horse-drawn funeral carriage at Miramar National Cemetery as a dignified tribute for any veteran, regardless of rank, whose family would like to enhance the final journey of their loved one. This complimentary service is provided through private contributions with deepest gratitude for your loved one’s service to our nation.