The Unofficial Guide to the Military Memorial Ceremony

Very little has survived officially to instruct units and chaplain's on how to conduct a memorial ceremony. Retired Army chaplain Richard Sones passes on his knowledge and wisdom in this handbook for the occasion. The goal of this guide is to offer a resource for chaplains and others who may be responsible for a military memorial ceremony. It answers the "where do I stand?", "what is the process?" questions, not from the approach that says this is the way it must be done, but as a body of possibilities gained from nearly thirty years' experience as a military chaplain. It is detailed enough that a separate company in combat without access to a chaplain can perform a decent memorial ceremony. It is written with the goal of instructing, motivating, and encouraging those who find themselves in the unenviable position of having to conduct a memorial ceremony in order that they will produce a work of art worthy of the price paid by the soldier they endeavor to honor. Sample messages from actual military memorial ceremonies are included at the end of the guide. As such, the guide would also be useful to local church pastors who are called upon to perform a funeral service for one of America's fallen warriors.