Five Creative Ideas for Military Funerals

When a military service member or veteran passes away, a meaningful final salute is in order. These brave men and women made tremendous sacrifices for our country and deserve to be respected and celebrated in a special way. 

Their patriotism, dedication to their nation, and courage in the face of danger can be highlighted in a number of ways beyond traditional military funeral honors. Read on for five of our favorite funeral ideas for honoring the life of a deceased member of the armed forces. 

Create a special military-themed guest book. 

Guest books are a tradition for most funeral services, but a beautiful military fabric-covered book is a special remembrance of an individual who gave so much to his or her country. The book itself might reflect the essence of military service with authentic accents, such as fabric from a service uniform or an American flag motif. This guest book is an ideal place for capturing the essence of your loved one, including dates of service and military photos, as well as recording the details of the funeral. If you aren’t the crafty type, a variety of high quality military guest books can be purchased online.

Assemble military memorabilia.

Display your loved one’s medals, uniforms, pictures and various achievements from his or her time in service. This exhibit could take a variety of formats. For example, you could set up a memory table during visitation periods and at the repast. If the deceased veteran served in many places during his or her career, you might consider posting a large map with push pins denoting these various deployment locations. 

Highlight service-related memories. 

During a celebration of life ceremony, guests are often invited to contribute their fondest memories of the deceased and honor a life well-lived. These remembrances can be physical, digital, or a combination of the two. This effort can be particularly moving when those who served alongside of the veteran can provide imagery from their time together in deployment. These images and stories are likely to be new to most friends and family members, and can provide added insight into your loved one’s life and service to our nation.

Include military themed elements. 

Honoring your loved ones service to our nation can extend throughout many aspects of the funeral or memorial service. From funeral programs and memory cards emblazoned with patriotic designs to decorations that reflect specific branches of the service, there are many ways to subtly create a patriotic ambience. You might recite special military poems such as The Soldier’s Prayer or A Tribute to Veterans, or even play theme songs for his or her branch of service during the repast.

Celebrate their home life, too. 

As important as it is to highlight the career of those who served in the armed forces, their personal attributes and dedication to family should not be forgotten. Balancing an active military career and personal life is no easy task. Although your loved one probably achieved many great things during his or her time in the service, those accomplishments should not overshadow their successes at home. Showcasing the decedent’s dedication to family and friends is just as fitting and significant as applauding an illustrious military career.

When members of the armed forces pass away, they deserve to be honored in a special manner. 

Their selflessness, bravery and many sacrifices to serve our country should be acknowledged and celebrated. Transforming an ordinary military funeral into a highly personalized and deeply meaningful occasion can be very healing for everyone in attendance.  

If you need more ingenious ideas for honoring a veteran who has passed, please contact our compassionate and friendly staff. Like you, we want to ensure that your loved one has the special send-off that he or she so richly deserves.   

About Vaughn Greene Funeral Services: For more than 20 years, Vaughn Greene Funeral Services has been providing a ministry of care to Baltimore’s African American community. As a leading local, minority- and family-owned provider, we promise to provide our highest level of service and respect to families who entrust us to honor their loved one. For more information, please call us at 410.655.0015 or visit us online at https://vaughncgreene.com/.