At Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home in De Soto, MO, we coordinate veteran funerals for families across De Soto and Jefferson County, and two people on our staff know that duty personally. Funeral director Bill Sternberg served in the U.S. Air Force and belongs to VFW Post 1831, and office manager Kim Drummond is active in the post’s Women’s Auxiliary. We feel privileged to assist you with coordinating Veterans Burial Benefits, Military Honors, and National or State Veterans Cemetery burials.
Contact our compassionate staff today about veteran funerals in De Soto, MO.
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Military Funeral Protocol
By federal law, eligible veterans receive military funeral honors at no cost when the family requests them. A veteran’s funeral still gives the family a chance to remember their life and accomplishments, but it also includes formal military traditions that a traditional funeral service does not:
- Folding and presentation of the flag: At least two Armed Forces members must attend a veteran funeral as an honor guard detail. A veteran’s parent service branch representative presents a folded American flag to the next of kin or designated individual.
- The playing of “Taps”: “Taps” is an emotionally moving and patriotic military funeral tradition, whether played via a live ceremonial bugle performance or high-quality recording.
- Placement of a headstone or marker: Those who apply for Veterans Benefits can receive a headstone, marker, or medallion from the Veterans Administration at no cost.
- Three-volley rifle salute: Missouri veterans typically receive a three-volley rifle salute, where a rifle party fires empty cartridges into the air three times as an act of honor.
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Contact Us Today to Request a QuoteQualifications for Military Burial
Military Honors are available to eligible members of the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and National Guard. Qualified members of the Armed Forces, as set forth by the Department of Defense, include:
- Military members who died on active duty or within the Selected Reserves
- Former military members who served on active duty or were in the Selected Reserve and were discharged honorably
- Former military members who completed at least one enlistment term or initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and were discharged honorably
How We Help With De Soto Veteran Funerals
It’s our goal at Dietrich-Mothershead to ensure your veteran loved one receives the highest level of respect and honor. Our caring funeral directors can assist you in numerous aspects of the military funeral service, such as:
- Arranging burial in a National or State Veterans Cemetery. Typically, scheduling burial in a National or State Veterans Cemetery begins with ensuring eligibility. Those eligible for burial include veterans of the Armed Forces, service members who died on active duty, a veteran’s spouse, and a minor-aged child. Some State Veterans Cemeteries have residency requirements.
- Arranging Military Honors provided by the Missouri Military Honors Program. The Missouri Military Funeral Honors Program is a cooperative effort between the Air National Guard and Missouri Army, active members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Veterans Organizations, and funeral directors. At a minimum, Military Honors include folding and presenting the flag and playing “Taps.”
- Coordinating a processional escort by the Patriot Guard. The Patriot Guard is an organization of military members and citizens who pay respects to deceased veterans and their families through a motorcycle and vehicle procession. Their goal is to shield mourners from distractions during the drive from funeral service to burial.
- The Veterans Burial Benefits application process. Families of eligible veterans (those who received a VA pension or disability compensation) buried in a private cemetery may receive reimbursement for burial expenses from the Veterans Administration. Further, the VA provides headstones, markers, medallions, and the American flag at no cost to families.
- Coordination with local Veterans groups who may participate in the funeral service. Provide the name and contact information of the local Veterans groups you wish to participate in your loved one’s service, and we’ll handle the rest.
A Team With Personal Ties to Local Veterans
Bill Sternberg has worked as a funeral director with Dietrich-Mothershead since 1996. He served in the U.S. Air Force and remains a member of VFW Post 1831 in De Soto, the same post whose Women’s Auxiliary counts office manager Kim Drummond as a member. That firsthand connection to the local veteran community shapes how our team handles every military funeral, from the first phone call through the final flag presentation.
Many De Soto and Jefferson County veterans are ultimately laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, the VA’s national cemetery for the greater St. Louis region. Our funeral directors handle the paperwork and coordination for burial there, as well as at Missouri State Veterans Cemeteries, so your family can focus on honoring your loved one instead of navigating VA forms.
Contact Us to Learn About Veteran Funerals
Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home remains an active participant in the Missouri Military Funeral Honors Program and can coordinate every detail of a veteran’s service, including personalized American-made caskets and burial vaults that commemorate military service.
If you’re planning a veteran funeral in De Soto, Hillsboro, Festus, Herculaneum, or elsewhere in Jefferson County, contact our funeral directors with any questions. Families who want to plan ahead can also look into pre-need funeral planning, which lets you arrange military honors and burial preferences before they’re needed.
Here To Help You
Funeral Director
Your loved one’s life should be honored in a way that would make them proud. Our team of caring, compassionate funeral directors is available to help 24 hours a day to help you add the personal touches that celebrate their life.
Funeral Services
No matter if you want to honor your loved one with a casual ceremony or a formal one, our services allow all attending the service to express their heartfelt gratitude for the part their loved one played in shaping their life.
Cremation Services
We provided memorial service options for loved ones who choose cremation over a traditional burial. All of our cremation services include assistance with the permanent placement of the urn at a cemetery or columbarium.
