HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We’ve done our best to create a Web site that anticipates and satisfies our veterans and their family’s desires. With that goal in mind, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions. If you do not find an answer to your question here, please ask it here and we will answer it as quickly as we can via a return email.
General Questions
Most Asked Questions
Veterans’ eligibility to receive an Honors Service.
We will render Military Honors to all Veterans, National Guard Members, and Reservists who have been Honorably Discharged, Separated, or Retired as evidenced by their Discharge Form DD214, Report of Transfer or suitable document.
How do I request a Military Honor Guard to be present at my loved one’s funeral?
Most requests are handled by and through the individual’s Funeral Director. They will request that you provide a DD 214 for the deceased veteran. If you don’t have one, they can help you get it or provide a workaround. Once the Funeral Director contacts us, we will attempt to schedule the service with our team members, considering the availability.
Why must I have a Funeral Director involved?
Indiana law requires a licensed Funeral Director, State, or Federally Authorized Representative to be present at any ceremony or honors where the body or cremated remains are present.
Are there any options for what functions I can request?
You can request any or all of our team functions: All services will have the presentation of a Burial Flag by either a component of the Active Military or an IMMHG member. A standard IMMHG Service can consist of a Eulogy w/A Full Team; a Eulogy w/A Rifle Team Only; or a Eulogy w/Taps Only. For a better explanation of what a Eulogy is, please select the tab About IMMHG, then Service/Rites on the Menu. When you select a ceremony, you will need to decide if you desire a complete service (Full Team) or a portion of it. When you select a Rifle Team only you will have the Eulogy read with a rifle salute (usually when you are able to provide your own bugler). Or, if you do not desire a Rifle Salute, you can request a Taps only service.
The Firing of the THREE VOLLEYS (“the 21 Gun Salute”).
A standard part of any military funeral is the ceremonial shooting of three volleys from at least three rifles (not 21) in honor of the deceased Veteran. After the three volleys are fired and Taps are sounded, a rifleman will retrieve three of them during the folding of the flag and put them in a presentation box. We will then present it to the person who received the flag. The remainder of the nine spent cartridges (assuming that all cartridges are found due to landscape conditions) are placed in a black velvet bag and given to the same person or the Funeral Director for presentation to the family as mementos.
Will a Burial Flag be presented to the family?
A United States flag is provided, at no cost through the Veterans Affairs via the US Post Office after the presentation of the Veteran’s DD214, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased Veteran who served honorably in the United States Armed Forces. It is furnished to honor the memory of a Veteran’s military service to his or her country. Generally, the flag is presented to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use during the funeral service. When there is no next-of-kin, the flag will be presented to the designated individual at the service.
What is said during the presentation of the American Flag:
“On behalf of the President of the United States; the United States Army, or the United States Navy, or the United States Marine Corps, or The United States Coast Guard, or The United States Air Force (your loved one’s branch of service); and a grateful nation. Please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation of your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.” At this time, the folded flag is handed to the recipient and a hand salute is rendered.
Can I make a contribution to IMMHG?
All the information about donating to IMMHG is found on our Donations page/tab on the Menu. You can use a major credit or debit card to donate through PayPal which is the gold standard for secure financial transactions over the web or mail a check or money order to our address at 9702 E. Washington St., Suite 400-147, Indianapolis, IN 46229-2609
Funeral Director
This area is for Funeral Directors and answers many of their questions.
Who is IMMHG?
We are a team of veteran volunteers representing all military branches. We have been performing Honors Services for over a decade in the greater Indianapolis area. IMMHG was formed from a previous group that was started over 30 years ago. Most of the Funeral Directors in the area know us, as do the active military representatives who do Honors Services along with us.
How do I contact IMMHG to schedule a service?
All scheduling is done through this website by using the Funeral Directors Service Request Form on the Menu. Once the form is completed, reviewed, and submitted, the form is sent to the IMMHG Scheduler, and the scheduling process is started. A scanned copy of the family provides DD214, or IMMHG approved record of an Honorable Discharge must be attached to the request. Please ensure all data is properly entered prior to selecting Submit.
How much notice do you require to do a service?
As much as you can give us. We are an all-volunteer organization and therefore are not always at the computer to receive your request. The Funeral Directors Service Request Form will automatically send you confirmation that the request has been sent. We do check for them several times per day. You will be notified once we have started the initial work on your request and who is the assigned Mission Commander. Please check your SPAM folder. You may also check our Calendar in a day or two to confirm the service has been scheduled.
What does a normal IMMHG Service look like?
We arrive about one half hour before the requested service time to make sure the site and team are ready. Once the funeral party arrives, the team members greet the coach with a military salute. As the veteran is carried to the grave site, the team again performs a military salute. A team member reads a eulogy and then the honor guard fires a rifle salute and then Taps is played. The draped flag is properly folded and then presented to the next of kin either by the member’s branch of service or if not present, IMMHG personnel. Additionally, an Honor Coin is presented along with the cartridges as explained in the next paragraph.
How many cartridge casings are presented to the next of kin?
After the three volleys are fired and Taps are sounded, we gather up the spent shell casings. A rifleman will retrieve three of them, put them in a presentation box and then present it to the person who received the flag. The remainder of the nine spent cartridges (assuming that all cartridges are found due to landscape conditions) are placed in a black velvet bag and given to the same person or the Funeral Director for presentation to the family as mementos
Memorial Services
This area is for Family Members and answers many of their questions to schedule a service.
Who is IMMHG?
We are a team of veteran volunteers representing all military branches. We have been performing Honors Services for over a decade in the greater Indianapolis area. IMMHG was formed from a previous group that was started over 25 years ago. Most of the Funeral Directors in the area know us, as do the active military representatives who do Honors Services along with us.
How do I contact IMMHG to schedule a service?
All scheduling is done through this website by using the Memorial Service Request Form on the Menu. Once the form is completed, reviewed, and submitted, the form is sent to the IMMHG Scheduler, and the scheduling process is started. A scanned copy of the family provides DD214, or IMMHG approved record of an Honorable Discharge must be attached to the request. Please ensure all data is properly entered prior to selecting Submit.
How much notice do you require to do a service?
As much as you can give us. We are an all-volunteer organization and therefore are not always at the computer to receive your request. The Memorial Service Request Form will automatically send you confirmation that the request has been sent. We do check for them several times per day. You will be notified once we have started the initial work on your request and who is the assigned Mission Commander. Please check your SPAM folder. You may also check our Calendar in a day or two to confirm the service has been scheduled.
What does a normal IMMHG Service look like?
We arrive about one half hour before the requested service time to make sure the site and team are ready. Once the funeral party arrives, the team members greet the coach with a military salute. As the veteran is carried to the grave site, the team again performs a military salute. A team member reads a eulogy and then the honor guard fires a rifle salute and then Taps is played. The draped flag is properly folded and then presented to the next of kin either by the member’s branch of service or if not present, IMMHG personnel. Additionally, an Honor Coin is presented along with the cartridges as explained in the next paragraph.
How many cartridge casings are presented to the next of kin?
After the three volleys are fired and Taps are sounded, we gather up the spent shell casings. A rifleman will retrieve three of them, put them in a presentation box and then present it to the person who received the flag. The remainder of the nine spent cartridges (assuming that all cartridges are found due to landscape conditions) are placed in a black velvet bag and given to the same person or the Funeral Director for presentation to the family as mementos
What does it cost to have IMMHG perform Funeral Honors at your desired location?
We are a completely volunteer organization and perform all our Funeral Services free of charge. We rely solely on donations and honorariums to cover our operating costs. This is further explained on the Donations page/tab on the menu.
New Team Member
Questions related to becoming a member of our team
Can I just observe to see if I would like to join?
Just fill out the form on the Interested in Joining IMMHG tab on the Menu. We will contact you to let you know where the services are scheduled and invite you to one. You can meet the members present and observe. You will be asked to “shadow” some actual services to make sure you feel that this way to honor our fallen Veterans is suitable. Please place any questions in the Comments section and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What if I work Monday thru Friday?
We do services seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, rain, snow, sleet, or shine. We will fit you in based on your schedule. All of our team members have other things going on in their life and cannot always make a service. The key is we usually have someone else on the team who can make it.
Is my age a factor in becoming a Team Member?
There is no age limit, however a Team Member MUST be a Honorably Discharged Veteran of a military service.
How much of my time will be required?
Not counting the commute time to the service site, on average, count on around an hour to do what we do. Our part of the service takes about twenty minutes, but we arrive early and sometimes the service is later than the posted time. Because of the associated costs involved to outfit a team member, we request that each member perform at least four missions a month. We also ask you to “Shadow” five services at a location of your choosing to ensure that you feel that this way of giving back to the Veteran Community suits your desires. We will explain the details after you fill in the request form.
Are uniforms provided?
IMMHG will provide each team member with complete uniforms. Uniforms are to be worn to official functions only and are returned to IMMHG when a person leaves the team as stipulated in the appropriate policy letter.
How do I know if I qualify to be on the team?
You must present a DD 214 which states that you were Honorably Discharged or Retired from the United States Military to join our team. Should you not have access to your DD 214 here is a link to a website that will help you obtain a copy of your DD214. https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/ If you need further assistance getting a DD 214 feel free to contact our Commander.
How is the training done for a new member?
You will be trained in a single position before the service so that you understand what is expected. Once you are comfortable in that position you will be trained in another function. We try to maintain our goal that each team member can perform in any position during a service.
Is standing, walking, or marching required?
We do stand at attention and ceremonial rest periodically during the service. Sometimes we have to march across the uneven ground at the cemetery. A military bearing is integral to what IMMHG does. We desire to provide a ceremony that is part of military protocol and history.
How many team members does IMMHG have?
For a current list of our membership please go to our “Roster” page in the “About” menu at the left. There you will find a list of all of our members and the office they hold, if any.
Color Guard
Common questions regarding the Color Guard detail.
How do I request the services of the Color Guard?
At IMMHG our first priority is always to render Military Funeral Honors and as such we fill requests for Color Guard services on an as available basis. With this in mind, we ask that you submit your request well in advance so we can schedule our squad. Use the menu selection Color Guard Request Form to submit a request for Color Guard services.
How long after submitting a request before we know if the Color Guard will be at my event?
Your request is rapidly transmitted to our staff. Since we are a completely volunteer organization, it may take a day or so for us to review your request and schedule a team. Rest assured that we will get back to you ASAP.
What services do you perform?
We can do the: posting of the Colors, opening an event; the retiring of the Colors, closing of event; and an informative narrated ceremonial 13 fold of the U. S. Flag (see here). Be advised that we may be required to leave the venue immediately after doing a portion of the event so we can attend a Military Funeral.
Is there a cost for the services of the Color Guard?
Yes. Although IMMHG provides Funeral Honors at no charge, because of the time involved, we do have a fee schedule in place for Color Guards. Please see our Color Guard Information tab for further information.
Venue issues!
It is your responsibility to inform the venue that we will be there about an hour prior to the event so we can rehearse. Also it’s VERY IMPORTANT, for you to let the venue management and security know that we will be bringing unloaded ceremonial M1 Garand service rifles into the venue with us and that we will be carrying them throughout our service process. We will also require on-site parking for at least two vehicles “with come-and-go” privileges while we are at the event.