ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 271800Z APR 00 ZYB MIN PSN 720735J24
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS  //N01770//
NAVADMIN 106/00
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/PERS-621//
 
SUBJ/MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS//
 
REF/A/LTR/ASD(FMP)/10DEC99/-/NOTAL//
 
REF/B/DOC/PERS-62/31DEC99//
 
NARR/REF A IS ASD(FMP) MEMO OF 10 DEC 99 TO SERVICE SECRETARIES,
 
SUBJ:  MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS POLICY MEMORANDUM.  REF B IS NAVPERS
15555D, NAVY MILITARY FUNERALS.//
 
RMKS/1.  THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000
REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) TO PROVIDE MILITARY FUNERAL
HONORS TO ALL ELIGIBLE VETERANS.  REF A PROVIDED SERVICE SECRETARIES
GUIDANCE IN IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY WHICH REQUIRES THE SERVICES TO
PROVIDE AT LEAST TWO UNIFORMED MILITARY PERSONNEL TO PERFORM A
CEREMONY THAT WILL, AT A MINIMUM, INCLUDE THE FOLDING AND
PRESENTATION OF THE U.S. FLAG AND THE PLAYING OF TAPS.  NAVY TAKES
PRIDE IN SUPPORTING ALL VETERANS' FAMILIES AND HONORING SHIPMATES
WHO HAVE DIED.  OUR SAILORS, PAST AND PRESENT, HAVE EARNED THE
PRIVILEGE OF APPROPRIATE MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS WHEN THEY ARE
BURIED, AND WE MUST PROVIDE SUPPORT WHENEVER IT IS REQUESTED.  THIS
MESSAGE PROVIDES INFORMATION THAT WILL ENSURE ALL PERSONNEL ARE
AWARE OF CURRENT POLICY AND WHERE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE
FOUND.
 
2.  DOD HAS PARTNERED WITH THE SERVICES TO DEVELOP THE NEW POLICY
AND THE FOLLOWING TOOLS TO ASSIST FUNERAL DIRECTORS, FAMILIES, AND
COMMANDERS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS MISSION:
    A.  A KIT THAT DETAILS CURRENT POLICY, PROVIDES INFORMATION ON
HOW TO REQUEST MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS, AND CONTAINS A COMPACT DISK
OF TAPS WAS SENT TO ALL FUNERAL DIRECTORS.
    B.  A NEW WEB PAGE, WWW.MILITARYFUNERALHONORS.OSD.MIL, WAS
CREATED THAT CONTAINS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT MILITARY FUNERAL
HONORS AND A SPECIFIC SECTION FOR FUNERAL DIRECTORS.  I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO VISIT THIS SITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MILITARY FUNERALS.
    C.  DOD HAS DEVELOPED A TOLL FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER, 877-MIL-HONR,
TO ASSIST FUNERAL DIRECTORS MAKE REQUESTS FOR MILITARY FUNERAL
HONORS.
    D.  A VIDEO FEATURING CEREMONIAL GUARD UNITS FROM EACH SERVICE
IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGES.  ONCE COMPLETED IT WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE FOR UNIT TRAINING.
 
3.  NAVY HAS UPDATED THE POLICY IN REF B AND PLACED THAT INFORMATION
ON THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE BRANCH WEB PAGE.  VISIT
WWW.PERSNET.NAVY.MIL/PERS621 FOR INFORMATION ON NAVY'S POLICY AND A
GUIDE TO TRAIN PERSONNEL TO PERFORM MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS.  OUR
COLLECTIVE GOAL IS TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR FORMER SHIPMATES AND HONOR
THE SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE.
 
4.  IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT THE CASUALTY
ASSISTANCE BRANCH AT 800-368-3202.
 
5.  RELEASED BY VADM N. R. RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
BT