Memorial Services for Veterans

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Monday, November 4, 2024

As Veteran’s Day approaches, we wanted to share information on veteran memorial services and funerals. A big part of planning a funeral for veterans or servicemembers is the memorialization of their service. There are many ways that a funeral service can be prepared for members of the armed forces. Speak with your Funeral Director about contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for additional resources. The VA may be able to provide your family with financial assistance or personalization materials for the funeral, monument, and more.

American Flags

For veterans, the presentation of an American flag is often a major part of the funeral. Folded flags in display cases are often purchased by families for the funeral service, or as a memorial in their home. 

Burial in Uniform

Some veterans choose to be buried in uniform as opposed to a suit or similar burial clothing. The VA may be able to help you acquire a burial uniform if your loved one’s original uniform does not fit or was lost. You should look at your loved one’s funeral wishes to see if they mention burial in uniform.

Flowers and Donations

Like with most funerals, flowers are usually acceptable; but as the family of the deceased, you may choose to ask that in place of flowers donations to a charity be made. Your loved one may have also specified preferences about sending flowers in their funeral plans.

Monuments

Monuments can be designed to honor your loved one and their service. The VA can offer monuments or customization options to veterans who meet certain requirements. We also offer services for monument creation and customization.

Medallions

Medallions are metal plates affixed to a monument that highlights your loved one’s service to their country. The VA may offer to provide a medallion or cover the cost of one for your loved one’s monument. Matthew Funeral Home also has medallions for your loved one’s monument in our memorial shop.

Ceremonies

You can request a military service burial. This can include the burial by servicemen, an honor guard, or a 21-gun salute. Speak with your funeral director or a VA representative for assistance with ceremonial coordination.

For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.
Refresh
Audio

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Choosing a Casket for Your Loved One

Choosing a casket is an important part of the funeral process. Many families choose the casket after their loved one has passed, but some people choose their casket ahead of time. This article will...

Grief and Tragic Backstories in Media

From superheroes to romantic comedies, many movies and TV shows rely on tragedy to help us connect or sympathize with characters. Grief of some form, or a tragic past leads a character on a path. E...

Alcohol Use and Coping with Grief

While in grief, many people turn to things that can comfort or distract them. It is not uncommon for some people to reach for alcohol in this way. For many people, alcohol can serve as a way to avo...

Apathy and Grief

On this blog, we often talk about how grief is a complicated emotion, and how everyone experiences it differently. However, we don’t often talk about grief and apathy. Apathy is a state of numbness...

Etiquette for Donating In a Loved One's Name

Some individuals or their families request donations to charity in place of flowers during the bereavement period. Most families will appreciate the donation in their loved one’s name. Especially i...

Grief and Losing Online Friends

In our technology-based world, more and more people have developed friendships completely in cyberspace. Consistent communication with gaming partners, online community members, and more allows us ...

Sending Sympathy Meals to a Loved One

When a friend or family member passes away, it is a common practice to send sympathy meals to the immediate family. Sympathy meals show your support for the family while providing them with food. W...

Validating Feelings of Grief

Grief is one of the most complex and misunderstood emotions for people to experience. One way to help your loved one cope with their grief is to validate their feelings. Supporting a loved one who ...

When a Loved One Receives a Terminal Diagnosis

When a loved one finds out that they have a terminal illness, it can be overwhelming to navigate the next steps. It can be difficult to know where to start. Preparations for care, end-of-life servi...

Choosing Your Loved One's Urn

When choosing an urn for your loved one’s cremated remains, there are many aspects to consider. Urns come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors, styles, and materials. It can be difficult to figure ...