Honoring a veteran is one of the most important duties of any funeral home, and it takes cooperation between our staff and the US military. Charleston, SC funeral homes stand ready to work with families to create meaningful funerals that incorporate military honors, and we can take care of any interaction with the government to make it easier on you. Read on to discover how McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation can help send your loved one off with full honors. 

What Sets Military Funerals Apart? 

Every member of the military who served with distinction is entitled to standard honors at their funeral, which include a military chaplain, a flag presentation service, and a final salute at the burial service. Depending on the level of honors, some veterans’ funerals will include a twenty-one gun salute, a flag draping over the casket, and the playing of Taps. We can examine your loved one’s service record and ensure all the honors they’ve earned are present. 

Who Is Eligible for a Military Funeral? 

Military honors are available for any member of the US military who served in combat or who served in peacetime or stateside for one term of enlistment. Anyone who enlisted or was drafted and was discharged due to injury or medical condition is also eligible. Aside from those who were discharged dishonorably or were convicted of a capital crime after serving, all veterans are eligible for standard honors. 

What Other Honors Does the Government Offer? 

We’re happy to work with the government to attain any honors your loved one has earned, including a Presidential Memorial Certificate thanking them for their service. The government also provides memorial headstones and markers free of charge, and memorial plots if your family has chosen cremation or the body is otherwise not available for burial. Your loved one may be entitled to burial in a national cemetery if you choose, and your family may be able to get reimbursed for burial costs. 

What Headstones and Markers Does the Government Offer? 

The federal government offers veterans’ families headstones and markers free of charge. These memorials come in granite, marble, and bronze and come inscribed with the name, dates of life and death, and details of service. 

How Can I Personalize a Veteran’s Funeral? 

Many clients want their loved one to be remembered in full - honored for their service, but also for the life they lived pre-and-post service. The official US Military funeral service offers set honors, but we can surround that service with a customized memorial service that offers all the amenities and freedom of standard funerals. You’ll also have access to our digital memorial walls and guestbooks to create a living tribute for loved ones from around the world to pay tribute. 

If you’re looking for Charleston, SC funeral homes to help with planning a veteran’s funeral, McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation can help. Visit us at our offices at 2501 Bees Ferry Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, or contact us on our website or by phone at (843) 722-8371. We can also be found at our Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant, or James Island locations.