Tel: 1-440-632-0818
Veterans Overview
As a retired U.S. Navy Veteran, I understand the long hours and personal sacrifice you have given for our beloved country. My family and I salute you and say "Thank You!"
The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veterans' family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.
The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail or a Standard Honors Team Detail.
At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the veteran/family.
Who is eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- 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.
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 convicted of a Federal or State capital crime sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
How do I establish veteran eligibility?
The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:
National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from the National Records Center or via the following web site: http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
Is anyone else eligible to receive funeral honors?
Yes. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as members of a Uniformed Service, are also eligible to receive funeral honors.
For NOAA personnel, eligibility is established using NOAA Form 56-16, Report of Transfer or Discharge. If the family does not have a copy of the NOAA Form 56-16, it may by obtained by contacting the Chief, Officer Services Division, NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center at (301) 713-7715. or by writing:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commissioned Personnel Center
Chief, Officer Services Division (CPC1)
1315 East-West Highway, Room 12100
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
For PHS personnel, funeral honors eligibility is established using PHS Form 1867, Statement of Service (equivalent to the DD Form 214). If the family does not have a copy of the Statement of Service, it may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Coordinator for the Commissioned Corps at (240) 453-6041 or writing:
Division of Commissioned Personnel/HRS/PSC
Attention: Privacy Act Coordinator
5600 Fishers Lane
4-36
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Testimonials
We are always interested in hearing from the families that we serve.
Please take a moment to let us know how well we served you in your time of need. We very much appreciate your feedback.
I can’t recommend Gary enough to entrust your beloved pets to. He treated my dog with the same dignity and compassion, one would expect for any family member.
The cremation package you receive, is very personalized for each family, and very beautiful and touching.
Gary, thank you for your outstanding treatment and services during such a difficult time, and thank you for ensuring I was actually receiving my dog Chase back.
Hands down the best funeral home I've ever been to. Very professional, caring ,and considerate. Very nice, warm,and clean. Thank you for your amazing service.
Gary has been wonderful in handling the cremation of several of our family pets. Highly recommend. Always available, personalized service, and the returns are very thoughtful keepsakes of our lost family member.
Thanking Gary Best for his handling of the cremation of our much loved Quinn. A kind and caring man who presented us with a neck chain ornament with a small charm containing Quinn’s ashes, a beautiful inscribed wood box containing Quinn’s ashes, and a touching print of Quinn’s foot pad, (that made me cry), it was a wonderful tribute to our faithful family member. I would and will recommend Gary’s services to anyone wanting a caring and compassionate person to handle the cremation of their pet family member…Thank you Gary
Friends suggested that we take our dog to Gary for cremation and wow were they right! Gary was so compassionate and kind so we knew he would take care of our baby girl (Coco-14 1/2 year old). Not only did he go above and beyond in the services he provided for cremation last fall, but we also received an ornament with her name on it at Christmas. Can't say enough positive things about Gary helping to make an awful situation a little easier! This place is truly the Best!
Thank you for the Bella ornament .
Nice surprise.
Thank you for the Xmas ornament in Pinkies name. It was a pleasant suprise.
Gary came highly recommended by several friends who just recently lost pets. Gray was so understanding and made everything so easy, even for a blubbering idiot like myself. When I got Capone back it warmed my heart...Everything was so professional and Gary didn't miss a beat! He collected everything I could of possibly wanted to remember my sweet Kittie by...Thank you so much Gary for making this alittle easier for me! God Bless you and what you do for me and other!🙏🏻
- Vikki Woodin
Gary simply wonderful, professional , caring etc.
took care of our needs wonderfully
thank you Gary
Been a year since you helped me lay Candice to Rest, still a little difficult ,thank you for your thoughtful approach and caring.
BEST Ever. service they provide! Compassionate & Respectful, Beautiful service. To much to say. HIGLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Other places you drop off and you don't know where they are going. This is a true service for you and your family. I was at peace. Love you ETHEL Your my buddy! Run in the clouds with your sister Lucy!
Dad
I'm still in shock of the passing of my sweet caring lovable son John Joseph Miller who fought 17 years of a TBI from a car accident 04/15/2006. Gary and everyone were so kind and compassionate during our time of grief. They surely will be used "next time" God Bless Gary and all who helped me, my family
I cannot express enough how grateful we are in the handling of my dear husband during this very difficult time. Gary went over and above to accommodate all of my requests, questions, changes etc. and truly empathized with me for our great loss. I am recommending them to family and friends, when they have to make these difficult choices.
Thank you so much for your professionalism, kindness, and grace in planning services for our dear mother, Pearl Franklin. Everything was beautiful and you were truly wonderful to our family. We couldn’t have asked for anything better. Much love to the Best Family from our Franklin Family.
Thank you for your services in time of need. You are a part of our family and all family's during this devastating time for all god bless all prayers. Your services will never be forgotten.
Efficient, accurate, organized, thorough, thoughtful and caring. A great experience for us in a tuff time. Gary made it easier. 2 deaths in 1 yr. for us. Glad to have had Gary’s help and care with the loss of our father and mother.
I highly recommend Best Funeral Home! They were there for us in the time of need losing our beloved pet. Caring and kind owners of the funeral home I will never forget during the most difficult time. Thank you!
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