Veterans entitled to military funeral

    AUGUSTA — Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve or Merchant Marine Service members who received an honorable discharge are entitled to a Military Funeral Honors ceremony at no cost to the family.
    “The rendering of Military Funeral Honors is a tribute and a way to show our nation’s deep gratitude to veterans and their families who are entitled,” said Frank Norwood, Maine Military Funeral Honors coordinator.
    Section 578 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2000 requires the Department of Defense to provide, upon request, Military Funeral Honors for eligible veterans.
    The Maine Military Funeral Honors Program began performing ceremonies for Maine’s Veterans in 2004. Since its inception, they have performed nearly 5000 ceremonies from Fort Kent to Kittery and eastern Canada.
    According to Maine Veteran’s Administration statistics, Maine is losing nearly 4,000 veterans a year. This rate is expected to continue with very slow reductions through the year 2030.
    Before the law passed many veterans did not have access to a Military Funeral Honors Ceremony.
    For more information about the Maine Military Funeral Honors Program or Military Funeral Honors, families and Veterans can visit www.funeralhonors.org or call the State coordinator in Augusta at 1-800-958-5967.