Navy Burial at Sea

The tradition of navies burying the dead is time immemorial as fighting men died and had to be buried away from land.it was the most convenient option with no preservation methods unknown. Today navy personnel often choose to be buried at sea for sentimental reasons. Other people connected to the navy can also be buried by the navy at sea.

Eligibility 

Any serving member of the navy can be buried at sea if he/she so wishes. Veterans who have been honorably discharged are also accorded this honor. Their family members are eligible too. Civilians with the Military Sealift command and any other non-naval citizen deemed to have served greatly by the naval commander can also get a sea burial.

Anyone eligible to be buried at sea and willing must do the request in writing. The request will be forwarded in a burial request package, and have a photocopy of the death certificate, a burial transit permit or cremation certificate and a copy of Department of Defense Form 214, a discharge certificate or retirement order.

Cremated remains

For cremated ash scattering, the ashes must be in a plastic or metal container to avoid spilling. The urn together with a burial request package can be forwarded to a burial at sea coordinator.

Full body remains

The body must be prepared according to set guidelines by a coroner at the nearest port with all costs met by the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD).  The burial coordinator will inspect the preparations and check the burial package along with the burial flag.

Burial flag

The PADD should forward a burial flag for eligible persons to be buried under a flag. The flag is returned after the burial. If not forwarded, the Navy provides one which is not returned. Civilian family members and other civilians are not authorized a burial flag.

The ceremony

The personnel attending the disposition wear the Uniform of the Day and if there is a chaplain of the faith, he leads the committal service. Casket bearers and body bearers can wear an armband on the left arm. 

The committal service for one authorized a burial flag follows a sequence;

• The ship is stopped if  possible and the Officer’s call is issued “All hands bury the dead” 
• The burial gathering assembles
• Call to Attention by the Adjutant
• Parade rest by the massed formation
• Saying of the burial service according to the deceased’s faith 
• Firing of three volleys
• Bugle plays Taps
• The flag is encased
• The ship continues normal activity