You asked for background information on the military funeral honors program and an explanation of the payment rates for people who perform such honors.

SUMMARY

Every eligible veteran is entitled to military funeral honors provided by an honor guard detail, if requested by a family member of other representative of the veteran. The military funeral honors program is governed and funded by both federal and state law. The Connecticut National Guard administers the program in Connecticut.

The pay rate for honor guard members who qualify for compensation is $ 50 per day, irrespective of the number of services at which they perform in any given day. Payment is made from state or federal funds, depending on the circumstances. Currently, the state provides approximately 30% of the funding.

THE MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS PROGRAM

Definition

Under federal law, the Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors to eligible veterans when asked to do so. DOD defines “military funeral honors” as the “ceremonial paying of respect and the final demonstration of the country's gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our Nation” (DOD directive 1300. 15, Military Funeral Support, Jan. 11, 2001). State law also mandates that the National Guard provide military funeral honors when a proper request is made on behalf of an eligible veteran (CGS § 27-76).

Eligibility for Military Funeral Honors

The following are eligible for military funeral honors under federal law:

1. military personnel on active duty,

2. former military members who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable,

3. Selected Reserve members,

4. former Selected Reserve members who served at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and

5. former Selected Reserve members discharged because of a service-related disability.

The following are eligible for military funeral honors under state law: war service veterans and anyone who served in the National Guard for more than 20 years or who dies while serving in the Guard (CGS § 27-76).

Composition of Honor Guard Detail

Under federal law, an honor guard detail must have at least two uniformed (currently serving) military persons (at least one from the veteran's parent service) and a bugler, if available. The honor guard detail may be augmented with volunteers who are military veterans, including retirees; members of veterans' service organizations (e. g. , the American Legion); or other approved organizations (10 USC § 1491(a)(2)). DOD established the Authorized Provider Partnership Program to provide training for such volunteers to standardize the quality of the honors rendered. Volunteers may participate as firing party members, pallbearers, and buglers but are not authorized to fold and present the burial flag.

Under state law, the honor guard detail may consist of up to five members, plus one bugler. It may include members of the National Guard, naval militia, State Guard, organized militia, or, if such members are unavailable, members of a veterans' organization (CGS § 27-76). The six-member limit is apparently for funding purposes only.

Honor Guard Ceremony

Federal law requires that military funeral honors include the ceremonial folding and presenting of the American flag to the deceased veteran's next-of-kin (or other appropriate person) and the playing of Taps by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. They may also include additional elements of honors, such as firing parties, pallbearers, and color guards, and up to full military honors for (1) enlisted veterans ranked sergeant major or (2) veterans ranked brigadier general or higher.

PAYMENT FOR MEMBERS OF HONOR GUARD DETAIL

State Law

State law sets a $ 50 per day stipend for eligible members of an honor guard detail. It specifies that the compensation must be paid from “funds appropriated to the National Guard and from federal funds received for that purpose” (CGS § 27-76).

Federal Law

Federal law requires that the defense secretary:

1. annually set a flat rate daily stipend that covers typical costs for transportation and other miscellaneous expenses for qualified members of an honor guard detail (i. e. , “members of the armed forces in a retired status and other persons who are not members of the armed forces or employees of the United States”) or, instead of the stipend,

2. provide for reimbursement of transportation and other expenses incidental to participation in the ceremony (10 USC § 1491(d)(1)&(2)).

The current stipend is $ 50 per day.

Program Administration

The Connecticut National Guard administers the military honors program in Connecticut. It is responsible for disbursing both the state and federal funds available for the program. According to Major Timothy Tomcho, the Guard's legislative liaison, the state provides approximately 30% of the program funding, and the federal government provides approximately 70%. In FY 07, the state appropriated $ 306,803 for the program.

Under current practice, according to Tomcho, a standard honor guard detail consists of two federally compensated soldiers for folding and presenting the flag, a federally compensated bugler, and up to three state-compensated firing party members (when available). The overwhelming majority (95%) of army veterans buried in Connecticut receive standard military honors. Payment information in cases requiring or involving additional honors is available by contacting the Connecticut National Guard at:

National Guard Armory

360 Broad Street

Hartford 06105-3780

Tel. (860) 524-4953

For more information on the federal program, visit the DOD website at (http: //www. militaryfuneralhonors. osd. mil).

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