To the editor:

Have you attended a veteran’s funeral lately and wondered why there was no military presence? Why there was no uniformed service personnel to fold the flag, present the flag and play taps? Why the last rites of a veteran was only recognizable by a flag draped casket? Did you perhaps wonder if it was because we were not close enough to a military installation? Or, maybe you thought it was because only veterans who retired from the military service were awarded this honor? Whatever your thoughts, there is in place a law requiring the Department of Defense to provide a military funeral honors ceremony for all eligible deceased veterans. The law (Section 578 of Public Law 106-65) specifically states that the Secretary of Defense will ensure that, upon request, a funeral honors detail is provided for the funeral of any eligible veteran. The detail will, at a minimum, perform the flag folding, make the flag presentation to a family member and play taps. The key to acquiring this service is asking for it. You must at the time of making the arrangements for the deceased ask for the Military Funeral Honors Ceremony. It is a free service and will not add one dime to the cost of internment. There is no added burden on the funeral home other than a telephone call or two to request the detail. The funeral directors are more than eager to accommodate the family and obey their wishes.

The American Legion Post 20 in concert with Representative Artur Davis office in Washington, D.C. has recently provided the Selma funeral directors with new telephone numbers to help facilitate the process. The last rites of veterans should not be absent of a military presence if the deceased desired and left instructions for that service.

Please consider leaving instructions with your loved ones asking for the Military Funeral Honors Ceremony. It will afford our government the opportunity to bid you a befitting farewell for your service. The service is free and is yours for the asking. Although the detail is small and there is no twenty-one gun salute or fly over of thunderbirds, it is very dignified and appropriate for the occasion.

As a reminder, all honorably discharged veterans, with few exceptions, are entitled to a grave site in one of the national cemeteries. Alabama has two national cemeteries, one at Mobile and one at Seale, Alabama. For all intent and purposes, the national cemetery at Mobile is full except for accepting cremated remains. The Fort Mitchell Cemetery at Seale still accepts cremated or casket remains. Plans and funding are being sought this year for a new cemetery to be built in Birmingham. May God continue to bless our troops, veterans and America.

James G. Smith, Commander

The American Legion Post 20