Military life runs on tradition, and some of those traditions continue after a service member is gone. A military funeral is among the most meaningful of them. For an eligible veteran, whether they served a few years long ago or died on active duty, it is the nation’s formal way of saying thank you for their service and sacrifice.
Still, those honors don’t arrange themselves. Families need to know what their loved one is entitled to, who to call, and which papers to find, often within a few days. So we put together this guide for everyone who has lost someone who served, and for the funeral homes that help them.
Where are the veteran’s medals? Should they go on the uniform or a suit? What should family members wear? And how does the family arrange military funeral honors?
These are common questions, especially when there’s only a week or two to prepare. This guide covers what families and funeral homes need to know: what to wear to a military funeral, medal placement, burial flags, funeral honors and the paperwork involved.
The basics are simple, though. Family members and guests wear dark, respectful clothing. Veterans attending the service may wear their medals on civilian clothes, and retirees and some former service members may wear the uniform. The family can dress the veteran in a uniform or a suit, with medals in the right order for the branch. Eligible veterans also receive military funeral honors at no cost, and the funeral director usually arranges them using the veteran’s DD-214.
Start With the DD-214
The DD Form 214 is one of the most important documents to find when arranging a military funeral. It’s the veteran’s discharge document, and it establishes eligibility for military funeral honors, burial benefits and other VA services. It also lists the veteran’s service and awards, which matters later when ordering medals.
First, check the places families usually keep important papers, such as desk drawers, filing cabinets and safe deposit boxes. Some veterans also filed a copy with their county recorder’s office, so a call there is worth making.
If the family still can’t find it, the next of kin can request the veteran’s records from the National Personnel Records Center. For this purpose, next of kin means an unremarried surviving spouse, a son or daughter, a parent, or a brother or sister. The center also asks for proof of death, and a letter from the funeral home counts. The National Archives explains how to request records online or with Standard Form 180.
One important detail: older DD-214s don’t always include every award. If the family remembers a medal that isn’t listed, check the veteran’s complete personnel file before ordering a mounted set.
Military Funeral Honors: What Every Eligible Veteran Receives
Federal law guarantees military funeral honors to eligible veterans, and the family never pays for them.
Under 10 U.S.C. 1491, the funeral honors detail includes at least two uniformed service members, and at least one is from the veteran’s branch. The detail then folds the flag, presents it to the next of kin, and plays Taps. If no bugler is available, the detail plays a recording and brings its own audio equipment.
Military OneSource offers guidance on arranging these honors. Here are a few things families should know:
- The funeral director usually makes the request. They contact the military funeral honors coordinator for the veteran’s branch.
- Allow at least 48 hours. That gives the honors detail time to come together.
- There is no charge. No family should ever pay for standard military funeral honors.
- Extra elements depend on availability. Rifle volleys, color guards and flyovers depend on eligibility and on available personnel.
So contact the funeral home early, and they can submit the honors request as soon as possible.
Dressing the Veteran: Uniform or Suit
Families can choose a military uniform or civilian clothing for the veteran. Both are appropriate, and the decision usually comes down to how the family wants to remember their loved one. Some families prefer a traditional dark suit, while others choose the uniform the veteran wore in service.
With a uniform, the medals and ribbons then follow the regulations for that branch. Each service has its own rules for placement and order of precedence, and our guides cover the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
With a civilian suit, place the full-size medals on the left side of the chest, above the pocket, in order of precedence. That way, the highest award sits closest to the heart. Also, a single lapel button is another option for families who prefer something simpler. Our guide to wearing military medals on civilian clothes explains placement in more detail.
What about the original medals?
Many families prefer to keep the veteran’s original medals rather than bury them. A second mounted set for the funeral lets the original awards stay with the family. Besides, it preserves something meaningful for children and grandchildren who may want to learn about the veteran’s service one day.
What to Wear to a Military Funeral
For family members and guests, dressing for a military funeral is the same as dressing for any formal funeral. Dark, understated clothing is right. However, veterans and former service members have a few more options, depending on their status. Here is a simple guide, based on the Army’s uniform regulation, AR 670-1:
| Who you are | What to wear |
| Family and guests | Dark, respectful clothing, such as a suit, dark dress, or slacks with a jacket. For a graveside service, dress for the weather. |
| Veterans attending | Civilian clothing with a lapel button, or your medals on the left side. AR 670-1 allows medals on civilian clothes at formal occasions of ceremony. |
| Retirees | AR 670-1, paragraph 23-3, permits Army retirees to wear the uniform while attending military funerals. |
| Former members with wartime service | AR 670-1, paragraph 23-4, gives eligible former members the same permission at military funerals. |
| Currently serving personnel | Follow your service uniform regulations and any instructions from your command. |
If you’re attending as a family member or guest, there’s no need to overthink your outfit. Instead, a simple, dark and respectful choice is enough. Being there for the family matters far more than what you wear.
Can Family Members Wear the Veteran’s Medals?
This question comes up often, and it always comes from a wish to honor the veteran. But in the United States, military decorations are personal awards. Only the person who earned them wears them, so family members should not wear the veteran’s medals as their own.
There are better ways to include the medals in the service. For example, one is a small display table near the casket or urn, with the medals, a photograph and the folded flag. That way, guests can see the awards and learn about the veteran’s service. And when someone asks about a particular medal, the family can share its story. A simple display often becomes one of the most meaningful parts of the day.
The Burial Flag
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides an American burial flag at no cost for eligible veterans. The family can then drape it over the casket or display it beside the urn.
To request it, use VA Form 27-2008, which VA offices and many post offices keep on hand. In most cases, the funeral director handles the paperwork for the family.
On a casket, the U.S. Flag Code places the union, the blue field of stars, at the head and over the left shoulder. After the honors ceremony, the detail folds the flag into a triangle and presents it to the next of kin. Afterward, families keep it as a lasting remembrance of the veteran’s service.
Other VA Memorial Benefits
Families may also qualify for other VA benefits. These are easy to miss while making funeral arrangements, so it’s worth raising them with the funeral director:
- Headstone or marker: a government headstone or marker for eligible veterans, with VA Form 40-1330.
- Medallion: for families who bought a private headstone, with VA Form 40-1330M.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate: an engraved certificate signed by the current President, with VA Form 40-0247.
- Burial in a VA national cemetery: for eligible veterans, through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.
A Short Checklist for Funeral Homes
Funeral directors often handle the practical arrangements families don’t know how to manage. A clear checklist keeps a military funeral organized and gives everyone more time to focus on the service:
- Request the DD-214. Ask the family for a copy at the first meeting. If they can’t find it, start the records request that day.
- Arrange military funeral honors. Contact the branch coordinator and allow at least 48 hours.
- Arrange the burial flag. Complete VA Form 27-2008 and confirm the flag will arrive in time.
- Confirm clothing preferences. Ask whether the family wants a uniform or civilian clothing.
- Discuss the original medals. Find out whether the family wants to keep the originals and order a separate mounted set.
- Verify the awards. Compare the medal list with the DD-214 and any personnel records before ordering.
- Prepare a display area. If the family wants one, set up a table for the medals, the folded flag and a photograph.
- Contact the medal maker early. Standard production at Super Thin Ribbons takes 12 to 14 business days, so call us as soon as a funeral order comes in.
Taking care of these details early avoids last-minute problems, especially when custom mounting is involved.
Getting the Medals Ready in Time
Families and funeral directors should think about medal timing early. Our standard production time is 12 to 14 business days, and funeral arrangements often move faster than that. So please call us before placing an order.
Call 940-851-6220 and tell us the funeral date. We’ll review the order and our schedule with you and do our very best to have the medals ready in time. We don’t charge extra for expedited production. Once we finish the set, Priority Mail Express reaches most of the continental United States overnight.
To help us get started, have this information ready when you call:
- The veteran’s branch of service
- The complete list of awards and devices, from the DD-214 or verified service records
- Full-size or miniature medals
- The shipping address
Funeral directors can also email the award information on the family’s behalf, and our team will coordinate the order and payment.
If you have more time before the service, our ribbon rack builder arranges awards in the correct order for the veteran’s branch and adds the right devices. You can also browse our military medals or read our guide to mini medals and full-size medals if you’re unsure which is right for the service.
Every funeral order has its own timeline, so tell us the service date, and we’ll give you an honest answer about what we can make and ship in time.
Use code STR2025 for 10% off your order.
Built in the USA
Super Thin Ribbons is a U.S.-based company, headquartered at 1602 Loop 11, Wichita Falls, Texas 76306. You can reach our team directly at 940-851-6220 or sa***@**************ns.com.
We’ve made military ribbons and medals since 1998. We’re a small, Native American and woman-owned business, and we work with veterans, families and funeral homes every day. Funeral directors are always welcome to call us on behalf of the families they serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Family members and guests wear dark, respectful clothing, just as they would for any traditional funeral. Veterans attending may wear a lapel pin or their medals on civilian clothes. Army retirees may also wear the uniform at military funerals.
On the left side of the chest, above the pocket, in the order of precedence for the veteran’s branch. The highest award sits closest to the heart.
The funeral director usually contacts the military funeral honors coordinator for the veteran’s branch. A copy of the DD-214 establishes eligibility. Request at least 48 hours before the service.
No. The family never pays for standard military funeral honors. That includes the honors detail, the flag folding, the flag presentation, and Taps.
Military medals are personal awards earned by the veteran, so family members should not wear them as their own. A medal display near the casket or urn is a respectful alternative.
Our standard production time is 12 to 14 business days. Funerals often need a shorter turnaround, so call us at 940-851-6220 before ordering. We’ll review the funeral date and do our best to meet it, with no extra charge for expedited production.
That’s entirely up to the family. Many families keep the original medals as keepsakes and order a second mounted set for the funeral. That way, the awards are on display during the service, and the originals stay with future generations.
Sources: 10 U.S.C. 1491, Military OneSource, the National Archives National Personnel Records Center, Department of Veterans Affairs burial benefits, the U.S. Flag Code, and Army Regulation 670-1, paragraphs 23-3, 23-4 and 23-6.
Thank You
If you’re reading this because you’ve lost someone you love, we’re truly sorry. Arranging a military funeral means many decisions in a very short time, and we hope this guide has made a few of them easier.
We’re also grateful to the funeral directors who help families through these arrangements. Your work makes a difficult time a little lighter, and we appreciate the care you put into every service.
If you need medals for a funeral or have questions about an order, please call Super Thin Ribbons at 940-851-6220. We’d be glad to help.