Family saddened when Honor Guard did not show for Funeral of WWII vet.

[KathleenElsie]

A dear friend and father of my daughter-in-law was buried on Monday July 5th. He will be sadly missed by all. This one request for his funeral was for a full military funeral. When we arrived at the cemetery the Honor Guard was no where to be found. Our whole family is in shock and we are wondering who to contact about the situation so no other family finds themselves in this situation.

 

[kn1080]

A dear friend and father of my daughter-in-law was buried on Monday July 5th. He will be sadly missed by all. This one request for his funeral was for a full military funeral. When we arrived at the cemetery the Honor Guard was no where to be found. Our whole family is in shock and we are wondering who to contact about the situation so no other family finds themselves in this situation.

What I do know is that the command in charge of ALL funeral honor guards is at FT. Drum. I dont know how much that helps... but I tried.

 

[Retired Grunt]

First get ahold of the funeral director and ask who they contacted to request an honor guard then follow up from there. There is a line in PA. where fort Drum is no longer responsible if it turns out it was Ft. Drum call (315) 772-6324 That will get you in touch with the Mountain Operations Center (MOC) let them know what happened and they will get you action. They can also get you contact info for any element that was responsible for that area in the event that it was not Drum.

Please understand that the military takes this seriously and will find the cause of the problem and someones head will roll!

My sincere condolences for your loss

 

[NRA UR2]

Firing Squad

Heres the way it works in my town. I have been a member of the American Legion Firing Squad for 20 years and and will give you the protocol. In our area any Veteran is eligible for a military funeral whether or not he(she) is a member of a veterans unit or not Each funeral director in our county automatically asks the bereaved family if the deceased member was in the military. When a soldier is relieved of active duty he is given a form 4473 which he is given to prove his service and is a permanent record of said activity. Whereever he lives for the rest of his life a copy of that document should be kept on file in the office of the County Service Officer(Theres one of these in every county in the U.S.. The original 4473 should be kept with all important papers, iwe social security card,etc. If a family answers yes to the directors inquiry and requests military rites, they will be given free of charge at the grave site. If Poll bearers are requested they will also be provided. In our area this work is done by combined members of American Legion, VFW, And Amvets. Words are said, volleys are fired and the coffin flag is folded and presented to the designited family member.A bugler plays TAPS.

Not all areas of the country are as dedicated as we are, but if you are not asked by the funeral director, please contact the nearest American Legion Post, Amvets or VFW or County Service Officer and you will be satisfactorily helped. Hope this helps you and any other local citizens with Veteran Family members.

Raymond Fretz--Life member American Legion and Amvets

 

[PaulIcemanMc]

Heres the way it works in my town. I have been a member of the American Legion Firing Squad for 20 years and and will give you the protocol. In our area any Veteran is eligible for a military funeral whether or not he(she) is a member of a veterans unit or not Each funeral director in our county automatically asks the bereaved family if the deceased member was in the military. When a soldier is relieved of active duty he is given a form 4473 which he is given to prove his service and is a permanent record of said activity. Whereever he lives for the rest of his life a copy of that document should be kept on file in the office of the County Service Officer(Theres one of these in every county in the U.S.. The original 4473 should be kept with all important papers, iwe social security card,etc. If a family answers yes to the directors inquiry and requests military rites, they will be given free of charge at the grave site. If Poll bearers are requested they will also be provided. In our area this work is done by combined members of American Legion, VFW, And Amvets. Words are said, volleys are fired and the coffin flag is folded and presented to the designited family member.A bugler plays TAPS.

Not all areas of the country are as dedicated as we are, but if you are not asked by the funeral director, please contact the nearest American Legion Post, Amvets or VFW or County Service Officer and you will be satisfactorily helped. Hope this helps you and any other local citizens with Veteran Family members.

Raymond Fretz--Life member American Legion and Amvets

I got my honorable discharge in 1972 from the army and as far as I know the form then was a DD form 214 that showed my service record from the time I joined till my release from Uncle Sams army. Maybe that is the new form they use but to those before me including WWII, because my father just passed a few years back, and his was a DD 214....

 

[kn1080]

Heres the way it works in my town. I have been a member of the American Legion Firing Squad for 20 years and and will give you the protocol. In our area any Veteran is eligible for a military funeral whether or not he(she) is a member of a veterans unit or not Each funeral director in our county automatically asks the bereaved family if the deceased member was in the military. When a soldier is relieved of active duty he is given a form 4473 which he is given to prove his service and is a permanent record of said activity. Whereever he lives for the rest of his life a copy of that document should be kept on file in the office of the County Service Officer(Theres one of these in every county in the U.S.. The original 4473 should be kept with all important papers, iwe social security card,etc. If a family answers yes to the directors inquiry and requests military rites, they will be given free of charge at the grave site. If Poll bearers are requested they will also be provided. In our area this work is done by combined members of American Legion, VFW, And Amvets. Words are said, volleys are fired and the coffin flag is folded and presented to the designited family member.A bugler plays TAPS.

Not all areas of the country are as dedicated as we are, but if you are not asked by the funeral director, please contact the nearest American Legion Post, Amvets or VFW or County Service Officer and you will be satisfactorily helped. Hope this helps you and any other local citizens with Veteran Family members.

Raymond Fretz--Life member American Legion and Amvets

There is no DD or DA form 4473. There is however an ATF form 4473, It is the yellow form we fill out at the gun shop to purchase a firearm.

What does the ATF's firearm purchase form have to do with a military funeral?

 

[PaulIcemanMc]

There is no DD or DA form 4473. There is however an ATF form 4473, It is the yellow form we fill out at the gun shop to purchase a firearm.

What does the ATF's firearm purchase form have to do with a military funeral?

I thought that he was mistaken about that. I did not think that the Goverment had changed from the DD214.:no:

 

[Piece Corps]

I got only a DD214 when I mustered out of the Air Force, and that is the only form you'll ever be asked for to prove military service.

 

[wolfhunter]

OK, NRA UR2 mentioned the wrong form.

Let's not get sidetracked from the OP. A WWII vet was not properly honored with a military funeral. Why, and what can be done at this point to pay respect to him?

 

[KathleenElsie]

OK, NRA UR2 mentioned the wrong form.

Let's not get sidetracked from the OP. A WWII vet was not properly honored with a military funeral. Why, and what can be done at this point to pay respect to him?

Thank you. We had all the proper paperwork. The funeral home made the arrangements as they have done for many WWII Vets in the past. The hardest part was when the hearse drivers came over and removed the American Flag from the casket. It would have had more meaning if our grandsons that are Boy Scouts had worn their uniforms and then folded the Flag. More dignified at least.

 

[wolfhunter]

Kathleen, I can only extend my sympathies to you and your extended family.

 

[kn1080]

I wish there was something we could do to help. Hearing of this situation saddens me greatly.

 

[KathleenElsie]

As a DAV myself I just want to see that other Vets that desires an Honor Guard has one. Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions.

 

[FN1910]

When my Brother-in-law's father died the funeral home contacted the military about an honor guard and was told that there was not one available. Since he was not only a WWII vet but was also nominated for the Medal of Honor but did not receive it due to the paperwork getting lost they were very upset. A friend of the family called Strom Thurmond's office and explained the situation. Within an hour the family received a call wanting to know when and where the funeral was to be held.

He was the tail gunner on a B-17 where the entire crew was either killed or wounded and unable to respond except for him. He reached the controls and was able to bring the plane back in by being talked down over the radio. He was later shot down and taken prisoner by the Germans. If anyone deserved a military funeral it was him. His story has been written up in several publications including Guideposts.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I understand we were told they would be there. Then they just did not show. Many letters to be written and call to be made when things settle down. Making a scene at the grave side was not an option. Praying that no one else goes through this.

 

[Conservative Wife & Mom]

I understand we were told they would be there. Then they just did not show. Many letters to be written and call to be made when things settle down. Making a scene at the grave side was not an option. Praying that no one else goes through this.

I am saddened by this heartbreaking scenario, Kathleen. Thank you for taking the time to let us know what happened and giving us a "heads up". Although I know that the mistake can never be undone, I pray that this brave soldier's family is afforded some form of satisfaction to ease their avoidable and unnecessary anguish.

My Dad is 93 yrs. old, a WWII veteran who served under Patton. I recently asked Dad if he wanted to be buried in his uniform (it still fits him) and he was so pleased that I would even think of that!

It goes without saying that I want an Honor Guard at Dad's funeral and now I know how to assure that it happens. Thanks to everyone who submitted info to this thread. :yu: are the best!!!