by Spec. Rachel L. Sanzo, 42nd Infantry Division Public Affairs
All New Yorkers who have served in the military, even if they never served in combat, are entitled to receive military honors at their funerals, according to Donald E. Roy, Director of the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.
“In 2009, the Honor Guard performed honors at over 10,400 funeral services across the state. But too many former soldiers and their families still don’t know they are entitled to basic military honors for any service, not just a 20-year career or combat service,” Roy said.
In order to spread that word, the Honor Guard will buy advertising in the obituary section of The Times Union, an Albany area newspaper, in January to inform former service members and their families of the honors available to them.
“Most funeral directors are aware that military honors are entitled to deceased service members. But many family members fail to mention their loved one’s military history because they don’t think they are eligible for honors due to the fact that they didn’t serve in the military long enough or because they didn’t serve in combat,” said Roy.
The advertisements will remind families that their loved ones are entitled to these honors regardless of where they served and for how long. The ads are being placed in the obituary section because older people tend to read that part of the paper regularly.
“It’s very important that we render the appropriate honors to military veterans, no matter if they served in a time of war or peace,” said Sgt. Jason A. Daniels, a team leader for the Military Forces Honor Guard with the C Co, 2nd of 108th Infantry Division in Hoosick Falls.
All former service members with an honorable discharge are guaranteed by law at least two soldiers to provide modified honors that consist of the playing of Taps and the folding of the flag, which is then presented to the next of kin.
“These modified honors are offered to the families of veterans at no charge to the family or the funeral home and allow a grateful nation to pay final tribute to service members who, in times of war and peace, stood strong in defense of the United States of America,” Roy said.
“Even if a member of the military served during peacetime and never had the opportunity to venture overseas, it’s still very important that we render honors to them,” said Daniels, a veteran who served in Iraq. “They put their lives on the line. They took the same oath that I did.”
“There are many veterans whose funerals were held without honors in past years simply because their families didn’t know they were available, and it’s a shame,” said Roy. “The last thing I want is for any soldier or veteran to go without the honors they deserve,” he added.
This is especially important as the World War II generation ages and those veterans die, he emphasized.