Burial & Memorial Benefits

Military Funeral Honors 

The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to Veterans who have defended our nation.

Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps.

The DOD began the implementation plan for providing military funeral honors for eligible Veterans as enacted in Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 on January 1, 2000.

Burial Flag

Pursuant to Iowa Code Section 35A.13 and the Iowa Administrative Code 801, Chapter 14, the Iowa Commission of

Veterans Affairs may reimburse Veterans organizations for providing military funeral honors.Find for more information and view the request form (PDF).

Burial Flags

A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased Veteran who served honorably in the U. S. Armed Forces. It is furnished to honor the memory of a Veteran's military service to his or her country. VA will furnish a burial flag for memorialization for an other-than-dishonorably discharged:

  1. Veteran who served during wartime
  2. Veteran who died on active duty after May 27, 1941
  3. Veteran who served after January 31, 1955
  4. Peacetime Veteran who was discharged or released before June 27, 1950 after serving at least one enlistment, or for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty
  5. Certain persons who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951
  6. Certain former members of the Selected Reserves

For More Information

For more information regarding burial benefits, visit the VA's National Cemetery Administration website.

Questions or comments concerning the DOD military funeral honors program may be sent to the following address:

Department of Defense
Directorate for Public Inquiry and Analysis
Room 3A750, The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1400

To arrange military funeral honors, please contact your local funeral home.