<P> As of January 1 , 2000 , Section 578 of Public Law 106 - 65 of the National Defense Authorization Act mandates that the United States Armed Forces shall provide the rendering of honors in a military funeral for any eligible veteran if requested by his or her family . As mandated by federal law , an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of no fewer than two members of the Armed Forces . One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent armed service of the deceased veteran . The honor guard detail will , at a minimum , perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the flag of the United States to the next of kin and the playing of Taps which will be played by a lone bugler , if available , or by audio recording . Today , there are so few buglers available that the United States Armed Forces often can not provide one . However , federal law allows Reserve and National Guard units to assist with funeral honors duty when necessary . </P>
<P> As of January 1 , 2000 , Section 578 of Public Law 106 - 65 of the National Defense Authorization Act mandates that the United States Armed Forces shall provide the rendering of honors in a military funeral for any eligible veteran if requested by his or her family . As mandated by federal law , an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of no fewer than two members of the Armed Forces . One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent armed service of the deceased veteran . The honor guard detail will , at a minimum , perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the flag of the United States to the next of kin and the playing of Taps which will be played by a lone bugler , if available , or by audio recording . Today , there are so few buglers available that the United States Armed Forces often can not provide one . However , federal law allows Reserve and National Guard units to assist with funeral honors duty when necessary . </P>
who is presented the flag at a military funeral
who is presented the flag at a military funeral
the next of kin
the next of kin