Military Funeral Honors and Repatriation

Start Here If You Are New to Funeral Honors and Repatriation

MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS is the ceremonial paying of respect and the final demonstration of the country's gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, faithfully defended the nation. Per 10 USC 149110 USC 1491, the ceremony consists of at minimum the FOLDING AND PRESENTATION of the American flag and the SOUNDING OF TAPS by a detail of TWO UNIFORMED MEMBERS, plus a bugler if available, of the Armed Forces. At least one detailed member shall be from the PARENT SERVICE of the eligible beneficiary. The MARINE CORPS STANDARD EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM. Two-member details are the EXCEPTION, not the rule for Marine Corps Funeral Honors. The REPATRIATION PROGRAM serves as the liaison between the Marine Corps and the U.S. government, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), the Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory (LSEL), and next of kin (NOK) of all Marines unaccounted for from previous conflicts. Maintains contact with National League of POW/MIA Families and other NOK organizations. 866-210-3421 OPTION 1 (toll-free). Per MCO 5360.3MCO 5360.3 and 10 USC 149110 USC 1491.

This page walks you through Funeral Honors and the Repatriation Program from your seat as a Marine, leader, or family member. By the end you will know.

• Funeral Honors statutory requirements
• The two-member minimum and Marine Corps standard above minimum
• The Funeral Honors ceremony components
• Eligibility for Military Funeral Honors
• How to request Funeral Honors
• The Repatriation Program mission
• DPAA, AFDIL, LSEL coordination
• POW/MIA family organizations
• How to reach the Repatriation Program

Every fact on this page comes from 10 USC 149110 USC 1491, DoDI 1300.15DoDI 1300.15, MCO 5360.3MCO 5360.3, MCO 1770.1MCO 1770.1, and HQMC Marine and Family Programs Branch published guidance.

What Funeral Honors Is

Military Funeral Honors is the ceremonial recognition the United States provides to those who served in the armed forces. It is mandated by federal law (10 USC 149110 USC 1491) for eligible veterans and active-duty service members.

Why Funeral Honors Matters

• Final official demonstration of national gratitude.
• Respect for the service member's contribution.
• Closure for the family.
• Continuity of military tradition.

Who Provides Funeral Honors

• Active duty units.
• Reserve and Guard units.
• Service-specific Funeral Honors details.
• Coordinated through the parent service.

Statutory Requirements

Per 10 USC 149110 USC 1491, the minimum Military Funeral Honors ceremony consists of.

Minimum Detail

• TWO UNIFORMED MEMBERS of the Armed Forces.
• At least ONE member from the PARENT SERVICE of the eligible beneficiary.
• A BUGLER if available (otherwise recorded Taps).

Required Elements

• Folding and presentation of the American flag.
• Sounding of Taps.

What "Parent Service" Means

The branch in which the deceased served. For deceased Marines, at least one member of the detail must be a Marine.

The Marine Corps Standard

The Marine Corps standard EXCEEDS the statutory minimum.

Beyond Two Members

For Marine Corps Funeral Honors, the two-member minimum is the EXCEPTION, not the rule. Marine Corps details typically include.

• Marine pallbearers (six members).
• Firing party (seven members typically).
• Bugler.
• Casket detail.
• Officer or SNCO in charge of the detail.

Why Marines Provide Above-Minimum Honors

• Reflects the Marine Corps culture of honoring its own.
• Family expectations align with traditional Marine ceremonial standards.
• Marine Corps takes pride in providing dignified honors.

When Two-Member Detail Is Used

• Geographic limitations preventing larger detail.
• Family preference for minimal ceremony.
• Logistical constraints.

The Funeral Honors Ceremony Components

Pallbearer Detail

Six Marines carry the casket from the hearse to the gravesite or chapel.

Firing Party

Typically seven Marines fire three volleys. The "21-gun salute" associated with funeral honors is actually three volleys of seven, conducted by the firing party.

Folding the Flag

The flag is folded into a precise triangle representing the cocked hat of soldiers who served in General Washington's Army.

Presenting the Flag

The flag is presented to the next of kin with the spoken phrase. "On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."

Sounding Taps

Taps is sounded by a bugler when available. If no live bugler is available, recorded Taps is used (with a "ceremonial bugle" device).

Salute

The detail renders a hand salute during the playing of Taps and the firing of volleys.

Eligibility for Military Funeral Honors

Per 10 USC 149110 USC 1491.

Eligible Categories

• Active duty service members who die.
• Veterans with service in the armed forces and a discharge other than dishonorable.
• Members of the Selected Reserve.
• Members of the Inactive Reserve who completed initial training.
• Some other categories per VA and DoD policy.

Discharge Considerations

• Honorable discharge. Eligible.
• General discharge under honorable conditions. Eligible.
• Other than honorable discharge. Generally not eligible.
• Bad conduct discharge. Generally not eligible.
• Dishonorable discharge. Not eligible.

Documentation Required

• DD Form 214DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).
• Or other proof of service.

How to Request Funeral Honors

For Active Duty Marine Death

• CACO coordinates Funeral Honors as part of duties.
• No separate family request needed.
• Parent unit and HQMC Casualty Section ensure coordination.

For Veteran Marine Death

• Family requests through the funeral home.
• Funeral home contacts the Marine Corps Funeral Honors coordinator at the nearest Marine Corps installation or unit.
• Or family contacts directly through the HQMC Funeral Honors POC.

Funeral Honors POC

Per the HQMC Funeral Honors webpage. https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Agencies/Casualty-MFPC/Funeral-Honors.

Lead Time

• Active duty death. Same week as funeral typically.
• Veteran death. Family should request as soon as funeral date is set, ideally a week in advance.

The Repatriation Program Mission

The Repatriation Program serves as the LIAISON between the Marine Corps and the agencies that work to recover and identify Marines unaccounted for from previous conflicts.

Why Repatriation Exists

• Approximately 81,000+ Americans remain unaccounted for from past wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Cold War, Iraq, others).
• Some are Marines.
• The U.S. commitment is to recover and identify all unaccounted-for service members.
• Repatriation Program ensures Marine equities and family communications are managed.

Repatriation Functions

• Collect, evaluate, and disseminate information and reports.
• Grave site investigations and excavations.
• Live sightings (rare but reported).
• Refugee interviews regarding past conflict events.
• Family communication and notification when remains are identified.

DPAA, AFDIL, LSEL Coordination

The Repatriation Program coordinates with three primary agencies for recovery and identification.

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)

DPAA is the lead DoD agency for the recovery and identification of unaccounted-for service members.

• Conducts archival research.
• Conducts field operations to recover remains.
• Maintains case files for unaccounted-for personnel.
• Notifies families when remains are identified.

Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL)

AFDIL conducts the DNA analysis to identify remains.

• Family Reference Samples (FRS) collected from family members for DNA comparison.
• Mitochondrial DNA, autosomal DNA, and Y-STR analysis.
• High scientific rigor for positive identification.

Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory (LSEL)

LSEL analyzes equipment recovered with remains (uniforms, dog tags, personal effects, aircraft components) to support identification.

How Coordination Works

• Recovery operation occurs (DPAA in the field).
• Remains and equipment transferred to laboratories.
• AFDIL conducts DNA analysis.
• LSEL analyzes equipment.
• Identification confirmed.
• DPAA notifies family through service liaison (Repatriation Program for Marines).

POW/MIA Family Organizations

The Repatriation Program maintains contact with several family organizations.

National League of POW/MIA Families

The premier family organization for next of kin of unaccounted-for service members from Vietnam and other conflicts.

Korea/Cold War Families of the Missing

Family organization for unaccounted-for service members from the Korean War and Cold War period.

Coalition of Families of Korean and Cold War POW/MIAs

Coalition organization advocating for accounting efforts.

Why These Organizations Matter

• Family advocacy with the government.
• Information sharing among families.
• Memorial and remembrance activities.
• Policy influence.

How to Reach the Repatriation Program

Phone

• 866-210-3421 Option 1 (toll-free).
• HQMC Marine and Family Programs Branch Repatriation office.

What To Expect

• Acknowledgment of contact.
• Connection with assigned case officer if applicable.
• Information about case status, recovery operations, and identification efforts.
• Coordination with DPAA, AFDIL, LSEL as appropriate.

For Families With Cases

• Periodic updates from Repatriation Program.
• Notification when significant developments occur.
• Coordination of any required Family Reference Sample collection.

Common Failure Points

Funeral Honors Not Requested

Families of veterans sometimes do not realize Funeral Honors is available.

Mitigation. Funeral homes typically know to offer this. Family advocates and veteran organizations also help.

Insufficient Detail Size

In remote areas, only minimum two-member detail may be available.

Mitigation. Honor Guard volunteers (private organizations) sometimes augment. Family aware of constraints.

Repatriation Family Unaware

Families of WWII or Korea-era Marines may have lost touch with the Marine Corps and not know recovery efforts continue.

Mitigation. DPAA outreach and Repatriation Program work to maintain family contact across generations.

Family Reference Sample Missing

Without a DNA sample from a maternal-line relative, identification may be impossible.

Mitigation. Repatriation Program proactively requests samples from extended family.

Cross References

• For initial casualty notification, see Casualty Assistance Program (CAP and CACO)
• For investigation tracking, see Casualty Investigation Tracking
• For sustained survivor support, see Survivor Benefits and Long Term Assistance Program (LTAP)
• For MF Branch overview, see Marine and Family Programs Overview and Authorities

Quick Reference

• Funeral Honors authority. 10 USC 149110 USC 1491.
• Minimum detail. Two uniformed members plus bugler when available.
• Marine Corps standard. Above minimum (pallbearers, firing party, etc.).
• Required elements. Flag folding/presentation and Taps.
• Funeral Honors POC. HQMC Funeral Honors webpage.
• Repatriation. 866-210-3421 Option 1 (toll-free).
• Coordinated agencies. DPAA, AFDIL, LSEL.

Records To Keep (For Family Members)

• DD Form 214DD Form 214 or proof of service for veteran funeral honors
• Funeral Honors detail confirmation
• Folded flag presented at ceremony
• Repatriation Program correspondence (if applicable)
• Family Reference Sample documentation (if collected)

If you have a question about Funeral Honors, contact the HQMC Funeral Honors office or your nearest Marine Corps installation. For Repatriation matters, call 866-210-3421 Option 1.