Ongoing Initiatives Provide one-stop coordination with local,

state and federal resources to ensureWisconsin’s veterans receive honors.

Provide and process the requests for thestipend program expediently.

Provide honors training upon request.

Continue to increase the awareness of theMilitary Funeral Honors Program.

Wisconsin Department of Veterans AffairsMilitary Funeral Honors Program

21731 Spring St.Union Grove, WI 53182

Toll-free phone: 1-877-944-6667

Toll-free fax: 1-866-454-0356

Email: honors@dva.wisconsin.gov

Website: www.WisVets.com/FuneralHonors

WDVA B0210 (08/14)

WISCONSINMILITARYFUNERALHONORS

PROGRAM

“On behalf of a grateful nation”

Arranging Military HonorsThe process starts when a family

expresses its desire for military funeralhonors to a funeral director. The funeraldirector then only needs to submit anHonors Request form (found at the websiteon the back of this brochure) to the MFHPoffice via a toll-free fax at(1-866-454-0356) to request military funeralhonors. If family members are arrangingmilitary honors without the assistance of afuneral director, they may call the toll-freenumber directly and the staff will assistthem in processing the Honors Request forthe veteran.

Who is Eligible for Honors?Veterans are eligible for military

honors at their funeral if they meet one ofthe following requirements:

Currently serving on active duty or inthe Selected Reserve (drilling with aunit).

Discharged from active duty underconditions other than “dishonorable”while meeting appropriate length ofservice criteria.

Completed at least one term ofenlistment or period of initial obligatedservice in the Selected Reserve underconditions other than “dishonorable.”

Discharged from the Selected Reservedue to a disability incurred oraggravated in the line of duty.

Our MissionTo provide and coordinate the appropriate

final tribute to eligible Wisconsin Veterans,acknowledging their faithful and honorableservice to the State of Wisconsin and ourNation.

The Military Funeral Honors Program(MFHP) is designed to complement andaugment existing organizations that provide thissolemn and dignified ceremony to honorveterans at the time of burial. The MFHP iscommitted to serving veterans and theirfamilies. The MFHP ensures all agencies arecoordinated in their efforts and that honors areconducted with dignity and respect, and meetan acceptable military standard.

Stipend ProgramThe Wisconsin Department of Veterans

Affairs recognizes that Veterans ServiceOrganizations (VSO’s) incur costs in providinghonors to Wisconsin veterans. To help offsetthose costs a stipend program has beenestablished that allows eligible VSO’s toreceive a stipend of up to $50.00 for eachhonors ceremony conducted. To learn moreabout this program and how your VSO canparticipate, please call our toll-free number at1-877-944-6667.

TrainingThe MFHP provides training and honors

refresher courses to Veterans ServiceOrganizations upon request. This includes bothflag folding and rifle team training. Call ourtoll-free number to learn more about trainingand to make arrangements.

Program Background

Nationally:On January 1, 2000, Military Funeral

Honors became a statutory benefit to allveterans with the signing of the NationalDefense Authorization Act. The law requiresthat, upon the family’s request, every eligibleveteran receive a military funeral honorsceremony to include folding and presenting theUnited States burial flag and the sounding oftaps.

Wisconsin:On May 9, 2000, the Wisconsin Department

of Veterans Affairs was authorized by Wisconsinlaw to administer a Military Funeral HonorsProgram using local units of memberorganizations of the Council on VeteransPrograms and members of the WisconsinNational Guard. As part of this bill, theWisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs alsoreceived authority to establish full-time honorsteams in Wisconsin.

Military HonorsA standard military honors ceremony

consists of the firing of three rifle volleys, thesounding of taps, the folding of the flag and thepresentation of the flag to the next of kin. Dueto availability of personnel, a rifle detail is notalways possible.

Each veteran is entitled, by law, to at leasttwo uniformed service personnel who willsound taps, fold the flag and present it to thenext of kin. The family needs to express thedesire to have uniformed personnel present tothe funeral director, who in turn will contact theMFHP for coordination of the military honorsceremony.

Bugles for Sounding TapsThere is a nationwide shortage of military

buglers. There are simply too few to handle theestimated 12,000 annual services. The MFHPcoordinates with the Wisconsin Army NationalGuard 132nd Army Band, other reserve unitsand also with the Bugles Across Americaorganization to locate volunteers. In addition,we have volunteer buglers in communitiesacross the state that we are able to call upon.If it is not possible to locate a bugler, then tapswill be sounded using a CD recorded atArlington National Cemetery or a ceremonialbugle.