state, official, and special military funerals - Army Publishing ...

One officer, commander of the guard.
Six NCOs of the guard.
Five seamen, sentinels of the guard.
(10) Surgeon, MDW—Medical Support.
28. The joint guard of honor.
a. Reliefs for the day shift will be composed of one officer, as commander of the guard, posted at the head of the
casket, and four noncommissioned officers, as sentinels, posted at each corner of the casket. Reliefs for the night shift
will be composed of one officer in charge, one noncommissioned officer as commander of the guard, and four enlisted
men as sentinels. The commander and sentinels will maintain the same positions as the day shift.
b. The number of reliefs, tours of duty, and other relative details will be determined by the commander of troops,
joint guard of honor (para 140 through 144).
29. Ceremony at place of repose.
a. The size and exact location of the joint honor cordon and security cordon will be determined by the ceremony site
control officer, dependent upon the location selected for repose. The joint honor cordon will be formed to flank the
route which the casket will follow from the hearse to the entrance of the place of repose. The security cordon will
enclose the immediate area where the ceremony will take place. The first, second, and third (final) positions of the
National Color and personal flag are shown in figure 11. Prior to placement of the casket in the place of repose another
National Color and personal flag will be positioned in stands to the flanks of the catafalque.
b. As the cortege arrives at the place of repose, the hearse will stop opposite the entrance where the joint honor
cordon is positioned.
c. Time will be allowed for the remainder of the vehicles in the procession to halt, discharge occupants, and for the
participants to move forward and take their positions.
d. When all personnel are in position, the ceremony site control officer will signal the body bearers to take their
position at the rear of the hearse for removal of the casket.
e. When the body bearers are in position, the commander of troops will bring the joint honor cordon to ATTEN-
TION and PRESENT ARMS. The band will sound the appropriate honors followed by a hymn.
f. On the first note of the hymn, the casket will be removed from the hearse and the procession will pass through the
honorary pallbearers and the joint honor cordon and enter the place of repose in the following order.
(1) Escort commander. (CG, MDW).
(2) Special Honor Guard (para 23b(1)).
(3) National Color team.
(4) Clergy.
(5) Casket.
(6) Personal flag bearer, when appropriate.
(7) Honorary pallbearers.
(8) Family.
(9) Other official mourners.
g. When the funeral party has entered the place of repose the band will stop playing and the joint honor cordon will
be brought to ORDER ARMS and PARADE REST.
h. The casket will be moved inside the place of repose utilizing a church truck, if appropriate, and placed on the
catafalque, the guard of honor will be posted and the body bearers dismissed. At this time the clergy may conduct a
brief service. If the next of kin desires to allow public viewing of the remains during repose, the guard of honor will be
dismissed and the mortician will open the casket. When the family is satisfied that the remains are properly reposed the
room is opened and the joint guard of honor posted.
Section IV
DEPARTURE OF REMAINS FROM PLACE OF REPOSE (See Paragraphs 58-63 for Interment Outside
Washington, D.C.)
30. General.
a. The remains will be removed from the place of repose at 1100 hours one day prior to the scheduled date of
burial. Appropriate musical honors will be rendered as the casket departs the place of repose to be escorted to the U.S.
Capitol. The remains will be honored again as the casket arrives at the Capitol.
b. Paragraph not used.
12 DA PAM 1–1/OPNAVINST 5360.1/AFM 143–2/CG 390 30 December 1965