Fort Sam Houston UMT Monthly Training:
15 March 2007
Part 5
“Military Ceremonies and Ministry-The Challenge To Honor Our Nation’s
Best”
I. Conducting Military Interments
II. Conducting Ministerial Services for
Secular Public Events
III. Current FSH Installation Chaplain Guidance
IV. Setting up the Chapel
V. History of Taps
Fort Sam Houston UMT Monthly Training:
Military Ceremonies and Ministry-The Challenge To Honor Our Nation’s Best
“Conducting
Military Interment Services”
Agenda
To conduct military interments in response to the
increase demand brought on by recent
legislation:
• What standards can we use to ensure we are
conducting a military interment properly?
• What do the regulations and current policies say
about conducting military interments?
• What kind of interment services do chaplains
conduct?
Agenda
• What are the family needs to honor the deceased?
• How should the chaplain prepare for the interment
service?
• How should the chaplain conduct the service?
• How does the chaplain relate or interact with the
honor guard detail?
Agenda
• How should the flag be presented to the next of
kin (NOK)?
• How does the chaplain maintain control of the
interment service?
• What kind of follow-up pastoral support
should take place after the interment?
• What are some of the comments family
members have made regarding interments at
ANC?
Arlington National Cemetery:
The Standard of Excellence for all Chaplains
• Staffed with a Senior Army Chaplain (O-5), Staff Chaplain
(O-4), and two Chaplain Assistants (E-7 and E-5)
• ANC has the capability to perform up to 35-40 funerals in
one day from all of the service chaplains and cemetery
representatives currently available
• Each ANC Army chaplain has the capability of doing up to 6
funerals in a day
• Other active duty, reservist, and national guard chaplains in
MDW augment the current ANC mission workload
• Visiting chaplains and civilian clergy officiating services
often come unsure of how to conduct an interment at ANC
Arlington National Cemetery:
The Standard of Excellence for all Chaplains
Interment services at ANC are marked by:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PRECISION
STRUCTURE
INTEGRATION
PROFESSIONALISM
DETAILED PLANNING
A TOTAL CARE PACKAGE
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
WHY?
“The answer is an epitaph to where we
have been, to who we are today, and
where we will go in the next millenium…
...we do it for OUR GOD, OUR FAITH, and we do
it for OUR COUNTRY.”
What do the regulations and current policies
say about conducting military interments?
Current references are:
• AR 165-1, Chaplain Activities in the U.S. Army
• AR 290-5, Army National Ceremonies
• AR 600-8-1, Army Casualty and Memorial Affairs and Line of Duty
Investigations
• AR 600-10, The Army Casualty System
• AR 600-25, Salutes, Honors, and Visits of Courtesy
• AR 638-1,
Disposition of Personal Effects of Deceased and Missing Persons
• AR 638-30, Graves Registration Organization and Functions in Support of
Major Military Operations
What do the regulations and current policies
say about conducting military interments?
•
•
AR 638-40,
AR 840-10,
•
•
•
FM 10-57F,
FM 10-63,
FM 10-63-1,
Care and Disposition of Remains
Flags, Guidons, Streamers, Tabards, Automobile and Aircraft
Plates
Soldier’s Manual, 57F Graves Registration Specialist
Handling of Deceased Personnel in Theaters of Operation
Graves Registration Handbook
• FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies
• FM 16-1, Religious Support Doctrine: The Chaplain
and Chaplain Assistant
• DACH Handbook, Religious Requirements and
Practices of Certain Selected Groups
What do the regulations and current policies
say about conducting military interments?
AR 165-1 says:
• Each chaplain ministers to the personnel of the unit
and facilitates the “free-exercise” rights of all
personnel, regardless of religious affiliation of either
the chaplain or the unit member. (Para 4-4b)
• When conducting religious services, a chaplain will
wear the military uniform, vestments, or other
appropriate attire established by church law or
denominational practice; (chaplains scarf, stole, or
tallit may be worn with the uniform) (Para 4-4d)
What do the regulations and current policies
say about conducting military interments?
AR 165-1 says:
• Chaplains are authorized to conduct rites, sacraments, and
services as required by their respective denomination.
Chaplains will not be required to take part in worship
when such participation is at variance with the tenets of
their faith. (Para 4-4e)
• Upon command orders, chaplains will conduct or assist in
arranging for burial services at the interring of members
of the military service, retired military personnel, and
other personnel as authorized by Army regulations, DOD
policy, and applicable law. (Para 4-4f)
What do the regulations and current policies
say about conducting military interments?
AR 165-1 says:
• Military and patriotic ceremonies may require a
chaplain to provide an invocation, reading, prayer, or
benediction. Such occasions are not considered to be
religious services. Chaplains will not be required to
offer a prayer, if doing so would be in variance with the
tenets or practices of their faith group. (Para 4-4h)
• Chaplains will not accept fees for performing
ministrations, sacraments, pastoral and family
counseling, and ordinances, which are a part of their
official military duty. Accepting gifts is subject to
guidance of DODD 5500.7R. (Para 4-4i)
Whatdokind
of interment
services
do
What
the regulations
and current
policies
say aboutchaplains
conducting military
interments?
conduct?
Minimally, provide the following IAW DOD guidance:
• Two military persons plus the bugler if available
• Play Taps with a bugler or on tape
• Fold and present the American flag
• One of the uniformed military persons should come
from the deceased veteran’s parent service and
should present the flag to NOK
• Military persons must be trained in the protocols
and procedures of conducting military interments.
What kind of interment services
do chaplains conduct?
• Full Honors
• Standard Honors
• Graveside (No Honors)
• Family Members
• Memorials
• Chapel Services
What kind of interment services
do chaplains conduct?
FM 22-5 says in Paragraph 9-29a:
• Military funerals are divided into the
two following classes:
– Chapel service, followed by movement to the grave or place of
local disposition with the prescribed escort.
– With graveside service only.
What kind of interment services
do chaplains conduct?
FM 22-5 says in Paragraph 9-29b:
• A full military honors funeral normally
consists of the following elements:
– Band
– Escort appropriate to the grade of the deceased, including
a firing party and bugler (AR 600-25).
– Colors
– Chaplain or clergy (Chaplain may escort civilian clergy)
– Hearse or Caisson and active pallbearers
– Honorary Pallbearers
– Personal Colors (if appropriate)
What kind of interment services
do chaplains conduct?
Memorial Services
and
Memorial Ceremonies
What’s the difference?
What are the family needs to honor
the deceased?
• Acknowledged spokesperson for the family
• Structure and focus in the preparation and
execution of service
• Time management
• Accentuation of faith
• Offering of hope
• Presence of love
• Celebration of life-- family rituals, special
eulogies, and presentations
What are the family needs to
honor the deceased?
•
•
•
•
•
•
A time of peace
Passion, compassion, and conviction
Gentle disposition and affirmation
Acknowledgement of loss and pain
Dignity-- for the deceased and survivors
Limited participation and accessibility by non-family
members
• Closure and new direction
How should the chaplain prepare
for the interment service?
• P-R-A-Y
• Acknowledge command authorization for
interment
• Contact next of kin (NOK) and schedule a meeting
with family before the scheduled interment service
• Learn family names as early as possible
• Determine requirements and type of service the
family desires and is authorized to have
• Plan with the family (with NOK as arbiter) the
order of the service and participants in the funeral
How should the chaplain prepare
for the interment service?
• Ask family for favorite scripture readings, hymns,
and songs
• Remind family of “sacredness” and dignity of
service
• DO NOT get caught up in family bickering nor
give the appearance of partiality-- BE FIRM
• Coordinate all requirements with the command
and the funeral director
• Contact the honor guard detail OIC or NCOIC to
coordinate order of events
How should the chaplain prepare
for the interment service?
• Plan for the unexpected and any unforeseen
changes-- family clergy vs. chaplain-led services
• Check uniforms and check them again
• Rehearse the program on paper and on site
with participants as time permits
• Have an inclement weather plan
• P-R-A-Y
How should the chaplain prepare
for the interment service?
Chaplains must consider the nature
of the remains of the deceased while
planning the interment service-regardless of the type of military
ceremony planned to honor the
deceased….
How should the chaplain prepare
for the interment service?
Bodily Remains
vs.
Cremains
vs.
No Remains
(Urn)
(Casket)
How should the chaplain conduct
the service?
• Be courteous, poised, and confident
• Maintain your military bearing and posture
• Speak loud enough for all to hear… use a PA
system where appropriate-- enunciate and
project your words without shouting
• Speak with conviction and confidence
• Execute all military commands with precision
but don’t be robotic
How should the chaplain conduct
the service?
• Acknowledge members of the family
throughout the service
• Be a pastor and a strong shoulder to lean on
• Be cognizant of the time
• Cater to the immediate needs of the family and
not your own
• STAY IN YOUR LANE
How does the chaplain relate or
interact with the honor guard detail?
• OIC or NCOIC is in charge of honor guard, firing party,
and bugler
• Chaplain should and must make on the spot corrections
--before and after the service-- BUT NEVER DURING
THE SERVICE
• Chaplain and OIC or NCOIC should collaborate before
execution of service
• Seek the advice of the OIC or NCOIC on matters of
military customs and courtesies if you don’t know
• Chaplain must remember that his/her ministry extends
to the honor guard detail also-- BE PASTORAL AND
APPROACHABLE
How should the flag be presented
to the next of kin (NOK)?
• The chaplain has the option to receive and pass the flag to
the NOK-- HIGHLY recommend chaplain presents flag.
• NOK may opt for another family member to receive flag-be sure that is coordinated before the service
• White gloves are optional but HIGHLY recommended
• An example of a statement to use at the time of
presentation of the flag to the NOK:
“On behalf of the President of the United States and
soldiers of the United States Army, I present this flag to you
in behalf of your loved-one’s faithful and dedicated service
to a very grateful nation. May he/she rest in peace and may
God bless in you in your time of loss.”
How does the chaplain maintain
control of the interment service?
• Coordinate with funeral director and/or cemetery
representative for support
• In the event of a graveside family squabble or
demonstrative expressions of grief… DON’T TAKE
SIDES
• Protect the sanctity and dignity of the service
• Ensure the flag is safeguarded
How does the chaplain maintain
control of the interment service?
• Have an escort or escorts available to remove
disruptive family members or visitors away from
gravesite
• Keep the chapel and graveside services focused, brief,
and to the point
• Set limits for participants and make them accountable
What kind of follow-up pastoral support
should take place after the interment?
• Coordinate pastoral support with family
pastor or clergy
• Follow-up phone calls
• Follow-up letters
• Home visitations
• Short-term grief counseling
• Memorials
• Encourage family/friends interaction
• Encourage community volunteerism
What are some of the comments family
members have made regarding
interments at ANC?
• The family and especially the grandchildren were very
impressed by the military ceremony.
• Everything was very impressive and in the very best of
taste. I am glad my family waited and came to ANC as I
know it helped us all to have Bill so fondly cared for at his
final Army formation.
• Provide family with form to be completed for gravesite
eulogy by chaplain before arriving at cemetery. The
chaplain got some of the information confused because it
was given in a rush with many persons talking at the
same time. Perhaps the funeral home could assist in this
process. All was much appreciated.
What are some of the comments
family members have made regarding
interments at ANC?
• In my wildest dreams, I never expected that. It was
great and closed a chapter of my life with dignity.
• We were all honored by all of you. Even in stormy
weather, everyone performed flawlessly.
• I could not ask for a more considerate and supportive
staff.
• My family was very pleased with every aspect of my
husband’s interment at ANC. We would not change
anything. May God continue to bless the wonderful
work you do in making families feel as comfortable as
possible.
What are some of the comments
family members have made regarding
interments at ANC?
• Our funeral was conducted during the winter storm. Everything
was rushed. We were very disappointed with the ceremony
coordinator. He disregarded the family wishes to hold the
ceremony at the start time. We started 15 minutes early, before
significant family members could arrive. We finished before the
scheduled start time. Then there was a significant gap before the
next funeral began-- obviously a high ranking Naval person. We
could have held to schedule. We love Arlington and will love
visiting but this could have been better.
• It would have helped if the family and the chaplain could have
more time to exchange thoughts, etc. However, I realize that this
is not easy to arrange given the time constraints.
Please accept the condolences of this command on your recent loss of your loved-one. The Military District of Washington Commander wants to assess
how families who choose to inter their loved ones at Arlington National Cemetery have been served. Please take a brief moment to complete the
following questions, fold sheet in half lengthwise, seal with enclosed tabs, and drop your response into a mail box.
(PLEASE CIRCLE ONE RESPONSE)
Overall, the interment process for my loved one was:
Very Inspiring
Very Disappointing
1
2
3
4
5
The Officiating Chaplain’s response to my family’s needs appeared to be:
Very Sensitive
Somewhat Distant
1
2
3
4
5
The Officiating Chaplain’s conduct of the religious service was:
Very Inspiring
Very Disappointing
1
2
3
4
5
The Honor Guard support (Casket Team, Firing Party, Escorts, etc.) was:
Very Impressive
Very Disappointing
1
2
3
4
5
The Bugler playing “Taps” and/or Band support was:
Very Inspiring
Very Disappointing
1
2
3
4
5
The Arlington National Cemetery Funeral representative and administrative staff were:
Very Helpful
Unhelpful
1
2
3
4
5
My expectations of how the interment process would be conducted were:
Far Exceeded
Unrealized
1
2
3
4
5
MDW GOAL 2 Sustain our reputation as the acknowledged military leader in
planning and conducting official ceremonies and public events.
MDW STRATEGY-2.2. Conduct Military Funerals (Arlington National Cemetery/
Army Off Post.
MDW OBJECTIVE2.2.1 Conduct 100% of ANC funerals to Next-of-Kin satisfaction.
METRIC- 100%Satisfaction rate (5.0 on scale of 1-5)
BASELINE - MDW Performance as of 1 OCT 99
BENCHMARK - MDW Performance as of 1 OCT 99
MEASUREMENT TOOL - Next-of-Kin Feedback Card
STATUS
Amber
Obj. 2.2.1. Conduct 100% of ANC Funerals to NOK
Satisfaction
5
4.9
= 5.0
4.8
= 4.5 to 4.9
4.7
= 4.4 and below
4.6
4.5
4.4
NOTES:
SEP=7 Response cards out of 186
OCT=50 Response cards out of 214
NOV=21 Response cards out of 205
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Fort Sam Houston UMT Monthly Training:
Military Ceremonies and Ministry-The Challenge To Honor Our Nation’s Best
“Conducting Ministerial Services
for Secular Public Events”
Agenda
•
•
•
•
To participate in other public ceremonies approved and
supported by the command:
What other public ceremonies can chaplains apply
their ministerial skills?
How should a chaplain prepare and conduct an
invocation and/or benediction for a public secular
event?
How can chaplains measure the effectiveness of their
performance of ministry in military ceremonies?
What is the bottom-line in performing military
ceremonial ministry?
What other public ceremonies can
chaplains apply their ministerial skills?
• Special Memorial Ceremonies
– Centennial Anniversary of the Spanish-American War
• Bi-partisan One-Time Events
– The Exoneration Ceremony for Henry O. Flipper
• Public Service Award Ceremonies
– Volunteers In Service to America
• Special Military Ceremonies and Celebrations
– U.S. Army Chaplaincy Anniversary Celebration
– Independence Day Celebration
• Ensure public ceremonies are not fundraisers or
partisan organizations with ideological connotations in
conflict with current Army policy
How should a chaplain prepare and
conduct an invocation and/or benediction
for a public event?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ask for Divine Guidance-- PRAY
Determine what is the occasion for the prayer
Determine who your audience will be
Write down your prayer(s)
Rehearse the prayer(s)
Check the timing of your prayer(s)
Pray with POWER and CONVICTION
Let your host have a copy of the prayer(s)
How can chaplains measure the
effectiveness of their performance
of ministry in military ceremonies?
•
•
•
•
•
Know your audience-- before, during, and after the ceremony
Develop a feedback survey card and collect data
Conduct AARs on ceremonies
Publish data on the conduct of ceremonies
Does the organization invite you back?
What is the bottom-line in performing
military ceremonial ministry?
• Represent the best of your
FAITH
• Represent the best of your
PROFESSION
• Represent the best in our
NATION
THINGS TO REMEMBER!
• COMMAND SUPPORT
• NO ONE KNOWS IT IS A MISTAKE UNTIL YOU
TELL THEM-- ABOVE ALL ELSE KEEP COOL
• LOOK AND ACT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER
AT ALL TIMES
• STAY IN YOUR LANE
• UNIFORM SHOULD BE FLAWLESS
• AS AN ENVOY OF FAITH, YOU ARE THERE TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS NOT YOURSELF
• ALWAYS FOLLOW-UP WITH NOK AND HOSTS
How excellent is thy Name in
all the Earth... He is worthy of
honor and praise!
Vignette #1
A chaplain assistant receives a message that a soldier has
died in an overseas deployment. This soldier’s death has
national recognition. The soldier is not from this
installation but his parents and family live in the current
locale. The Casualty Office has not made an official
notification as yet. The possibility of the interment being
in the local area is currently high. What should the
chaplain assistant do to help prepare his/her chaplain to
cover this interment service?
Vignette #2
The Installation Commander has just tasked the UMT to
plan, coordinate, and conduct a Memorial Day
Celebration. There will be VIPs and other dignitaries
attending the program. The commander has tasked you
to provide an appropriate invocation and benediction for
the occasion. The Commander states that all soldiers will
attend the program and the uniform is TBD. The action
agency for the program is civilian and is unfamiliar with
military courtesies and protocol. The guest speaker is
allegedly a Congressman from the Armed Services
Committee. What guidance can the UMT give to ensure
success?
Vignette #3
The Installation Commander wants to establish the
correct protocols for supporting soldiers and family
members in honoring their deceased loved-ones. There
have been complaints from FSH cemetery and family
members about the support the installation has given to
some highly visible cases in recent months. He tasked the
UMT to head up a panel to review current processes and
procedures in place to support this mission. Who are the
players and what recommendations do you think they
should make to improve the current situation?
“Setting up the Chapel”
Seats for
Participants
U.S. Colors
Seats for
Participants
Cross
Altar
(w/bible and
candles)
Chapel Colors
Lectionary
Kevlar/Weapon
Display
Pulpit
If unit also desires that Unit Colors be
displayed, consult protocol or unit
CSM.
Pews
Make sure you
run seating chart
through protocol
Top Frontal View
Kevlar/Weapon Display
Kevlar w deceased soldier’s name
on camo band and rank
M-16 or M-4 (barrel down) w/
fixed bayonet and empty magazine
in magazine well. Magazine side
is toward congregation
I.D. tags suspended from magazine
Memorial Stand
Pair of highly shined boots.
“A HISTORY OF TAPS”
Questions ?