Serving York County

Military funeral honors are the nation’s way of thanking those who have served to defend their country, whether in war or peace.  They afford certain privileges and gifts to the eligible veteran and -- in some cases -- the vetteran's spouse and minor children.

In fact, U.S. law dictates that military funeral honors be rendered by the Department of Defense at no cost to any eligible veteran upon request by the family.  Veterans are usually eligible if they served a single full tour and were honorably discharged.

As part of the service we provide here at the Koller Funeral Home and Cremation Center in York, PA, we will help you plan and then coordinate military honors as part of the funeral and burial that you arrange.

As provided by law, an official detail for the burial of the eligible veteran will include at least two active members of the Armed Forces, one of which will represent that veteran’s branch of the military service. 

Additionally, local military honor guard organizations might be available to participate in the funeral and burial as augmentation to the active military detail.  Your funeral director should have access to such honor guard groups in your area.

The honor detail will perform a ceremony including the folding of the American flag to present to the deceased’s next of kin.  Playing of Taps is also included and will be either played by a bugler/trumpeter or by electronic recording if no bugler / trumpeter is available.  Moreover, depending upon the level of military honors earned, color guard, military personnel pallbearers and/or a rifle volley may be provided.  This is more likely available if there is a local military honor guard organization to assist. 

Veterans Burial Benefits

With a copy of the deceased veteran’s Honorable Discharge papers, the staff here at the Koller Funeral Home and Cremation Center will help you arrange for the following veteran’s benefits in addition to the military funeral honors mentioned above.

National Cemetery Burial
Burial in a national veterans cemetery instead of a private cemetery is available to any eligible veteran at no cost.  However, space may not be reserved in advance; and, although this same benefit may also be available to the veteran’s surviving spouse and minor children, there is no guarantee that gravesites of the family members will be close to ane another.  Also, timing of the burial could be an issue since burials at national veterans cemeteries are not done on weekends.  For further details, speak to your funeral director.  If you are eligible but decline burial in a national veterans cemetery, then monetary allowances are available for burial and for cemetery plot reimbursement.

Grave Marker
Whether you use a private cemetery or a national veterans cemetery, an official headstone grave marker of granite, marble or bronze will be provided by the Veterans Administration.  Your funeral director will have details.

American Flag
Every eligible veteran may receive an American flag to be placed in the casket, draped over the casket or folded and presented at a memorial service.  Your funeral director can see that the flag is available for your loved one. 

Presidential Memorial Certificate
Your funeral director may see that your loved one receives an official memorial certificate that bears the seal and signature of the current U.S. president.  This is a meaningful keepsake for a surviving spouse or child of the deceased veteran. 

Here at the Koller Funeral Home and Cremation Center, we have the experience to see that your loved one is honored fully including military honors for the veteran.  If you have questions about military honors and veterans benefits, please consider contacting us so that we can help.