People often contact me both immediately before and others immediately after someone has just died. Among the other pressing concerns that come up, are what to do about burial. Or cremation. Of course, I’m a lawyer, not a funeral director and one really should seek out all the options with a professional in that field. My best advice is to pre-plan and pre-pay for all the arrangements you want BEFORE they are needed.
One option that many don’t consider is burial at sea. If you are a veteran (any branch) or the surviving spouse or child of one, you may want to explore this possibility. My friend, Amy Martin Wilson, did a lot research on this subject and wrote an article all about it which I am re-printing here (with permission). The poetry she included is by Dale Chadwick (also reprinted by permission of his wife, Norma)
Dear Lord, have my spirit sweep out over your blue waters And put it in the curl of A windblown wave. Dale Chadwick, Yarns & Wadding, 2010
Burial at Sea
By Amy Martin Wilson
The Ocean’s peace and tranquility has been a source of comfort and adventure for mankind for countless generations. Eternally changing, forever enduring, it has been a final resting place for many.
Burials at sea are a long standing tradition, dating to when the military did not have the means for proper disposal. Today that tradition continues for those who choose this disposition.
The ceremony is a sacred honor, requested by the military member, their family or dependents.
The United States Navy has an active Burial-at-Sea program, available FREE to any active duty member of the U. S. Military, as well as any honorably discharged veteran or retired member of any branch of service.
If you are the spouse or child of any of the above, you are entitled to this free service also.
On June 22, 2015, in response to my inquiry, I received the following from HM3 Ramsey Perez, Burial at Sea Coordinator at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California, via email: “You are eligible on either your spouse or your father’s military service. Your children are eligible under their father as long as proof of relationship is provided, i.e. birth and/or marriage certificates, etc.”
The Navy has performed many burials at sea in its history and currently (2015) approximately 900 annually are conducted. This tradition demonstrates honor and commitment to service and their country, beyond a military members’ life, that the country still values.
“Burials at sea are important because it helps us recognize the services of those that went before us and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their sacrifices” said one Commander recently during a ceremony conducted for 25 members of the Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force and Army aboard a ship at sea.
As in all things military, if you want to take advantage of this free service, there are procedures to follow and forms to be filled out. In addition to a certified copy of the death certificate from the mortuary, there is the PADD or Person Authorized to Direct Disposition, followed by a Burial at Sea Request form. Then there is the ubiquitous DD-214 discharge certificate or retirement certificate. Next is a Transit Permit provided by the mortuary. For dependents, supporting documents such as marriage or birth certificates are required. These documents make up the necessary BAS (Burial-at-Sea) package.
There are five U. S. ports of embarkation that accept remains: Norfolk, Virginia, San Diego, California, Jacksonville, Florida, Bremerton, Washington and Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Navy will accept either casketed remains or cremated remains, called cremains.
Cremains must be sent in an urn or other biodegradable container, designed to prevent spillage during shipping. These must be sent to any of the five ports via United States Postal Service, certified mail, with tracking and return receipt request.
Casketed remains are only accepted at Norfolk and San Diego, and the family or PADD selects a funeral home in one of these areas to receive and prepare the remains awaiting the BAS commander’s notification of the next deployment. All expenses associated with transport, preparation and storage are the responsibility of the family or PADD.
Casketed remains must be in a metal casket and must weigh at least 300 pounds with 150 pounds at the foot end, using lead or sandbags if necessary, to insure feet first sinking. The casket must be banded by 6 metal or nylon bands attached around head and foot, and horizontally around sides and over the top. Twenty 2 inch holes are drilled in specified locations, to insure that it quickly descends to the ocean floor and remains there.
The committal ceremony is performed aboard a Navy vessel while it is deployed; therefore family members are not allowed to be present. A commanding officer is assigned to be in charge of the ceremony.
“Vessels often take multiple remains to sea, as many as they can accommodate” reported HM3 Swogger, a US Navy Funeral Director.
In preparation, the officer of the deck calls “All hands bury the dead,” and the ship is stopped (if possible). The ship’s flags are lowered to half mast. The ship’s crew, including a firing party, casket bearers and a bugler, all volunteers, are assembled on the deck. The crew stands at parade rest at the beginning of the ceremony.
The coffin is covered with a flag, and is carried feet first on deck by the casket bearers. The casket is placed on a stand, with the feet overboard. In case of cremated remains, the urn is brought on deck and placed on a stand.
The ceremony is divided into a military portion and a religious portion. The religious part is specific to the religion of the deceased, and may be performed by a Navy chaplain or by the commanding officer if no chaplain of the appropriate faith is available. A scripture is read and prayers are said accordingly.
The religious portion lasts about 10 to 20 minutes for each religious preference.
After the religious ceremony, the firing party is ordered “Firing party, present arms.” The casket bearers tilt the platform with the casket, so that the casket slides off the platform into the ocean. The flag which was draped over the casket is retained on board and later returned to the family if requested.
For cremated remains, there is the option to bury the remains using the urn in a similar procedure used for caskets. Alternatively, the urn can be opened, and the cremains scattered in the wind. In this case, the wind direction has to be taken under consideration.
The firing party fires a three volley salute, sometimes with piping from the Boatswain’s mate, and the bugler plays Taps. Flowers may also be dropped into the ocean, similar to a land burial, where flowers are placed on the closed grave.
After the flag is folded, the ceremony ends. This kind of burial is another form of release into nature.
An interesting side note: The salute rifle party usually has an odd number of members, 3 to 7. The salute custom comes down from a naval tradition where a warship would fire its cannons harmlessly out to sea until all ammunition was spent, signifying lack of hostile intent.
Once the committal service has been completed, the family will receive a notice of the date and time, a nautical chart with coordinates (latitude and longitude), photos and video recordings if available, along with a signed letter from the Commanding Officer. In some cases, a memento of shell casings from the rifle salute is sent as memorials.
Veterans buried at sea are still eligible for the standard government issued headstone or marker providing the next of kin submits a claim form with supporting documents.
Two notable people who were buried at sea are John F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. astronaut Neil Alden Armstrong, whose burial was performed by the U.S. Navy on the USS Philippine Sea in the Atlantic Ocean on September 14, 2012.
When I am cremated My smoke will have sought heaven And my ashes the sea It is true; the sea is in our blood. Dale Chadwick Yarns & Wadding, 2010 Used with permission of Norma Chadwick
Sources: Navy & Marine Corp Mortuary Affairs, Millington, TN; Wikipedia; USS Peleliu Public Affairs; Decedent Affairs Office, Navy Medical Center, San Diego, CA; Memorial Program Services, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Washington, DC; Naval History & Heritage Command Public Affairs, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC; Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA; New England Burial At Sea (Non-Navy Private Sea Burials); Norma Chadwick 8-11-2015 verbal permission; WDBJ7 Television Roanoke, VA, February 4, 2015; Tharp Funeral Home; www.navy.mil/navydata
Amy Martin Wilson’s bio:
Retired, living in Charlottesville since 2013. She plans to take advantage of the U. S. Navy’s Burial at Sea Program.
