[Todd Kinsey]

Video follows text.

[Nervous Tick]

>> what was hard was presenting the flag to the grieving family

I’ll tell you what else is hard, FRIend — watching a solemn and professional young soldier tenderly presenting the folded flag to the widow of a veteran, without choking back a few tears.

FRegards

[DManA]

When my WWII vet father died in the 80’s all the Navy provided was a foot stone with his dates of service and rank.

[laweeks]

flag draped coffin which is folded graveside and presented to the family

I understand that the folding stuff that is done is very boring to our first Grifter-ette, Mooch-Elle . . . When her eyes roll and she tells Obambi "all this for a flag," I guess we gotta' change the ceremony. Wouldn't want to offend her.

[yarddog]

My Father was a combat veteran of WWII. My sister handled the funeral. There was a flag already folded which was presented to her by the funeral director. Mother preceded daddy by a couple of years.

I didn’t even know all this was available but it was a nice funeral anyway.

[passionfruit]

Thank you for sharing!

[humblegunner]

“Video follows text.”

Video right here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7367662n

[Battle Axe]

I sobbed uncontrollably at Dad's funeral. He was one of the first officers in the newly created Air Force. My niece who had spent some time in Iraq arranged for the gun salute and the folding of the flag which I have upstairs in a nice case next to a picture of us fishing.

I need to thank her again for getting us that. We even had the taps played by a real soldier, not just a recording.

But the grave marker was a foot store to match Mom's. I hated the grave marker. It was just like closing the book on his life. I fought them tooth and nail not to put that on Mom's grave. I didn't want her life to be over, she died a year after Dad.

Now my s. o. has passed away. I found him dead on the floor and I thought he was still warm. The paramedics had me pump his heart which seemed like forever til they got there. But he had been dead for 3 hours they said.

This time it was me who arranged stuff. Just last Friday I got a call that the headstone had arrived. It is just so nice and I want to have it installed next spring, after the weather clears. They don't do it in the winter here.

I was so glad to know what the stone was, it does look like white granite. The funeral home sent in his DD-214 but the fact that he got a Bronze Star is not on the market. Rather his rank ET1. No one cares what rank he was, I want to have the bronze star info on the marker.

CAN I DO THAT?

[xrmusn]

Good link from DOD explaining procedures etc.
Looks like best bet is Funeral Director as they are pretty much up on what can and can not be done.
Naturally, a DD214 (or equivalent) is needed to start.

www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil

This site answers a lot of questions regarding Veteran Funerals.