A significant portion of families who call us are arranging ceremonies for veterans. Military service creates a deep connection to the sea for many who served, and burial at sea carries a weight of tradition that many veterans expressed as a final wish.
The U.S. Navy offers at-sea burial at no cost to active-duty personnel, retirees, and honorably discharged veterans. The remains are committed from a Navy vessel at sea, and the family receives notification afterward — including the date, time, and coordinates of the burial. Families are generally not present at the Navy ceremony; it is conducted by the ship's crew at sea during normal operations.
To request a Navy burial, families contact the Navy Mortuary Affairs office through the funeral home or directly. Processing can take several months. Cremated remains or casketed remains are accepted.
Many families prefer a private ceremony where they can be present — where they can speak, place flowers, play the music their loved one would have chosen, and witness the moment of release. Private ceremonies are fully civilian but can incorporate as much military tradition as the family wants.
Common elements families bring: the folded flag presented at a prior service, a recording of Taps or a live bugler, the playing of a branch-specific hymn (the Navy Hymn, the Army Song, the Marine Corps Hymn), or a reading from naval scripture. The crew honors these elements without scripting them — the family leads.
At any private ceremony for a veteran, families may arrange for a rifle salute through the VA's military funeral honors program — a three-round volley fired on the pier before boarding. The VA coordinates this at no cost with at least two weeks' notice. We can advise on the logistics when you call.
Veterans waited a long time to reach the sea. A private ceremony means their family is there when they do.