Subject: The
Burial at Sea Option
Dick Koehler, Capt USN RET
The
Burial at Sea Option The Navy and Coast
Guard have similar burial at sea programs except that the Navy accepts cremated
remains (cremains) and casketed intact remains while the USCG only accepts
cremains. Individuals eligible for this program are: (1) active duty
members of the uniformed services; (2) retirees and veterans who were honorably
discharged. (3) U.S.
civilian marine personnel of the Military Sealift Command; and (4) dependent
family members of active duty personnel, retirees, and veterans of the
uniformed services. The subjects should request this form of burial in
writing and advise the probable executor of the request and its location.
Program basics applicable to the Navy and USCG programs are described at the
web sites cited below:
Navy:
https://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=204
;
USCG:
www.uscg.mil/vote/docs/casualty/Personnel%20Casualty%20Procedure%20-%20Burial%20at%20Sea%20Program%20Guide.p
The
burial flag is obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs, see:
https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/bflags.asp
Burial at Sea is a
means of final disposition of remains and cremated remains
("cremains") that is performed on United States Navy and Coast Guard
vessels (or aircraft). The committal ceremony is performed while the ship is
deployed. Therefore, family members are not allowed to be present. The
commanding officer of the USN ship or USCG cutter assigned to perform the