Veterans
Our staff provides memorable and professional veteran funeral services in Bristol, CT
Memorial Service
Those who honor our country through the selfless sacrifice of military service deserve, themselves, to be honored. At O'Brien Funeral Home, we believe in paying proper respects to military service members and veterans both as they live and as they pass on from this world. Whether the desire is for a full military service or simply a small family funeral, we are committed to offering burial and memorial services that honor, respect, and provide true meaning to those gathered in mourning.
The Benefits of Military and Veteran Services
There are a number of benefits that come from planning a military service—and the foremost one is simply being able to honor, in some small fashion, those who have given so much for our nation. A military burial service is not just an important way to pay respects to our service veterans, but also their families.
Other Benefits Include:
A United States flag is provided at no cost to drape over the casket or to accompany the urn; it is provided to the next-of-kin following the service.
- Headstones, foot markers, or medallions can be obtained at no cost from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Families may receive the Presidential Memorial Certificate, which is signed by the current president.
- Military funerals can take place in private cemeteries or in veteran cemeteries.
- Eligibility for Military Funerals.
The Funeral Honors Ceremony
The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veterans' family, the playing of Taps and the rifle salute. 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.
Frequent Questions
Who is eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
For this unique honor, veterans from all military branches qualify—regardless of rank, and regardless of whether they served in active duty, Reserve duty, or National Guard duty.
- 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.
For more information, we invite you to contact us today.
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
Contact Us
You are welcome to call us any time of the day, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. Or, visit our funeral home in person at your convenience.
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