What U.S. Air Force funeral honors include
Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable can have military funeral honors at no cost to the family (10 U.S.C. § 1491). The law guarantees an honor guard of at least two uniformed service members who fold and present the U.S. flag and play Taps. Anything beyond that depends on who is available. What the law requires. A U.S. Air Force detail can include:
- An honor guard of at least two uniformed service members
- Folding and presentation of the U.S. flag
- Taps
- A rifle volley, when a firing party is available
- A flyover, only in rare cases and when aircraft are available
U.S. Air Force funeral traditions
The Air Force's best-known tribute is the missing man formation: aircraft fly over in formation and one pulls up and away. Flyovers are rare at funerals and depend on aircraft being available, so ask the funeral director to raise it early.
Music played at services
The Air Force Song ("Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder")
Folding and presenting the flag
After the 13 folds, the flag is presented with the words: "On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Air Force, and a grateful nation..." The fold is the same triangle used by every branch.
Where U.S. Air Force veterans are buried
Many U.S. Air Force veterans are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, near the Air Force Memorial, but any VA national cemetery with space is open to them on the same terms. An eligible veteran gets the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care and a government headstone or marker at no cost. Find a VA cemetery.
How do you request U.S. Air Force funeral honors?
Ask the funeral director. They request the honors detail from the U.S. Air Force for you and send the veteran's DD214 to confirm eligibility. You set the date and time of the service; the detail costs nothing.
VA suggests contacting the service branch at least 48 to 72 hours before the service. More on how to request military funeral honors.
U.S. Air Force burial benefits
Burial benefits come from VA, not the branch, and are the same for every branch. An eligible U.S. Air Force veteran may also qualify for:
- Burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost, for the veteran and an eligible spouse and dependent children
- VA burial allowance (currently $1,032 for a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026)
- Plot allowance and interment allowance for non-VA cemeteries
- Government-furnished headstone or marker (any cemetery)
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by the current President
The VA burial benefits guide has the current amounts, who qualifies and how to claim.