With many member of the 558th nearning the end of their life, we provide these links for further information on benefits available to them.
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MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS
While many veterans think of military funeral honors as a right, the honors grew from custom, not Department of Defense policy. However, as of January 1, 2000, all eligible veterans became entitled to military funeral honors. Upon request, two service members will fold and present the American flag to surviving family members and a bugler will sound Taps. If no bugler is available, a recording may be used. At least one member of the funeral detail will be from the deceased veteran's parent military service. By law, veterans are now eligible for military funeral honors if they served in the active military and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, or if they were a member or former member of the Selective Reserve unless convicted of federal or state capital offenses. Funeral honors must be requested and the DOD's new policy calls for funeral directors, rather than families, to contact the military. A DOD Website: www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil, explains the process and a toll free number, 1-877-MIL-HONR,
(1-877-645-4667), is available for funeral directors to coordinate ceremonies.
National Cemetery Administration - Burial and Memorial Benefits
http://www.cem.va.gov/index.htm
Military Funeral Honors
http://www.cem.va.gov/mhg.htm
Burial Benefits
http://www.cem.va.gov/burial.htm
Headstones and Markers
http://www.cem.va.gov/hm.htm
Burial Flags
http://www.cem.va.gov/bflags.htm
Military Funeral Honors
http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/intro.html
Who is Eligible?
http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/eligpage.html
Services and Resources For Veterans
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/for-vets/
How to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military Service
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html
Location of Military Service Records, Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) and Health and Medical Records
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/location/