PREPARATION FOR THE BURIAL AT SEA CEREMONY

There are two component parts of the ceremony of burial at sea-religious and military. The reading of the scripture and prayers, the committal, and the benediction constitute the religious part and may be performed by the chaplain or commanding officer, or by an officer designated by him or her. All other aspects of the ceremony are performed by other personnel. For burial at sea, the casketed remains should be covered with the national ensign with the union placed at the head and over the left shoulder (fig. 14-1). When the casket is draped with the national ensign, the cape and sword of the deceased are not displayed. Six pallbearers form according to height, three on each side of the casket. Pallbearers will uncover when they are below decks and not carrying the casket. At all other times they remain covered.

The selected place for committal is usually a part of the weather deck with a reasonably unobstructed area in which to form the detail and is usually in the after part of the ship. Before the ceremony, the CMAA should make sure the site is cleaned and properly rigged. When the casketed remains are brought on deck the casket is placed securely on a stand, if necessary, with the feet outboard, at a right angle to and extending over the side. Attention is sounded (by bugle, bosn's call, or word of mouth) as the pallbearers, preceded by the CMAA, execute the hand salute as the cortege passes to the place selected for the committal. When the remains have been so placed, the hand salute is terminated by those in sight, and a sentry is posted unless the burial service is to follow immediately.

A CPO may be designated to take charge of the firing squad. The CMAA directs the pallbearers during the service until the flag is encased and delivered to the commanding officer.

Figure 14-1.-Correct method of displaying the flag with the casket.

THE CEREMONY FOR BURIAL AT SEA

Assemble all participating personnel and form as illustrated in figure 14-2, space permitting. When the honor platoon has been assembled in massed formation and has been brought to parade rest, the burial service begins and is read through to the end of the prayers. During prayers, the assemblage remains covered with bowed heads. After the conclusion of the prayers, if the name of the deceased was not included in the service, it is fitting to be mentioned. Upon conclusion of the prayers, the pallbearers should hold the casket and national ensign in place by hand as may be necessary before the reading of the committal.

When these preparations have been completed and

all is in readiness, attention is sounded. The command FIRING SQUAD, PRESENT ARMS is given. Simultaneously, the honor platoon responds with a hand

salute, and the reading of the committal begins. When the indicated word of the committal is read, the pallbearers tilt the board until the casket slides along it, under the national ensign, overboard into the sea. As it slides overboard, the pallbearers retain the board and national ensign and stand fast.

The commands FIRING SQUAD, ORDER ARMS and PARADE REST are given, and all hands bow their heads. The benediction is pronounced. Then follow the commands FIRING SQUAD, ATTENTION, and FIRE THREE VOLLEYS. The honor platoon hand salutes and remains so until the last note of taps (if taps is not sounded, hold the salute until the last volley of fire READY, AIM, FIRE; AIM, FIRE; AIM, FIRE. After the last volley, the firing squad remains at the ready

position, pieces locked, until the conclusion of taps, then salutes.

Upon completion of taps, the firing squad is brought to ORDER ARMS. The pallbearers encase the national ensign by folding. (Detailed directions for folding the flag can be found in the BlueJackets Manual.) It is then presented by the CMAA to the commanding officer.

After the commanding officer has received the flag and has departed, the command PARADE REST is given, and when all have assumed it, the personnel details (firing squad and pallbearers) are brought to attention, formed, and marched away. When they are clear, the honor platoon is brought to attention; retreat is sounded; and the ceremony is over.

CREMATION

In cases where the remains have been cremated and the receptacle containing the ashes has been received on board for burial at sea, the following procedures will govern:

If the receptacle is to be opened and the ashes scattered at the time of committal, a small table or stand should be securely rigged beforehand at the selected

place for the committal. The receptacle should be placed on this table or stand during the reading of the service. The folded flag should be placed on the stand beside the cremains. The XO or some other officer appointed by the commanding officer will assume responsibility for opening the receptacle and scattering the ashes (keeping in mind the wind factor) at the appropriate time during the committal ceremony.

Figure 14-2.-Deck plan for burial at sea.

If the receptacle is to be committed together with the ashes, a small platform should be constructed and rigged so that during the service the receptacle may rest thereon and be launched at the time of committal by tilting up the inboard end of the platform, thus permitting the receptacle and ashes to slide overboard.

The ashes received for committal at sea will sometimes be accompanied by floral tributes, which may be used to surround the receptacle and cover the platform or table on which it rests during the service. The flowers may be permitted to slide overboard with the cremains or be tossed into the sea by a flagbearer after the receptacle has been launched or the ashes have been scattered.

For all phases of the funeral where the cremains have been carried by hand, one person should be detailed to carry the receptacle containing the ashes.

Four enlisted members are detailed as flagbearers and serve in place of the six pallbearers otherwise required. The flagbearers follow the bearer of the receptacle as it is brought on deck and carried to the place of committal. The prefolded flag is carried by the leading flagbearer on the right. The flag is then placed on the stand beside the cremains. The flag will be picked up and held folded by the flagbearers during the committal of the ashes to the sea.

Before any burial at sea, you should review applicable BUMED directives. Complete detailed information concerning burial at sea is contained in Navy Military Funerals, NAVPERS 15555.