The world has changed and funeral homes’ standard operating procedures have changed dramatically. The old way of doing business has disappeared in the blink of an eye and likely never to return.
The Future of Funeral Services
Flag Procedures During a Military Funeral
The folding of the flag and presentation is an integral part, if not the most important part, of any military funeral. There is symbolic meaning in virtually every move made.
The Tradition of Taps at Military Funerals
The forlorn trumpet or bugle being played during a military funeral that seems to hold that note longer than possible. It never seems to end; it just fades away. The echo seems to reverberate, and you are never sure until later that it is gone. Somber. Final. The traditions of taps […]
Burial at Sea
Funeral Service for Navy Personnel at Sea One of the more unique forms of military funerals has to be the age-old tradition of burial at sea. The tradition of burial at sea has been conducted for as long as there have been seafaring peoples. A tradition born of necessity. When traveling so […]
The Ritual of the Honor Guard
The ritual of the Honor Guard is an important part of a funeral service for a standard military funeral. It is different from a 21-gun salute. A 21-gun salute usually relates to the firing of cannons or artillery to honor a dignitary. It is a common mistake people make to confuse […]
Supporting Loved Ones in Moments of Grief: Now or Later?
The older I get I find myself spending more time at funeral homes. It is inevitable, I suppose, to spend at least some of that time thinking about death and loss. Is there a better time to reflect on such subjects? It is never a comfortable situation albeit necessary. The […]
Why Is it so hard to discuss death with family?
by Rick Lucas It could be the toughest conversation you will ever have and the easiest to put off. People tend to not want to face the necessity of discussing or planning their own funeral service. Planning ahead your funeral service is as much a responsibility as planning for your retirement or […]
How to Fund a Funeral
by Rick Lucas Many people either do not know or do not want to face the financial reality of learning how to fund a funeral. Funeral homes expect to get paid as soon as the services have been completed.
Pre-planned Funeral Eases Anxiety for Family and Friends
by Rick Lucas A pre-planned or pre-arranged funeral is the process of specifying final wishes and decisions with your funeral home of choice to ease the burden from family and friends. Many milestones in life require some degree of planning: a wedding, children, career, retirement. End-of-life planning should be no […]