Military Scattering Ashes at Sea
There are many options available to a deceased military personnel’s family when it comes to burials and funeral services. Many families belonging to the Navy branches of the military prefer scattering the ashes at sea. At first, this was done because there was no other alternative and waiting until the ship came to shore wasn’t always feasible. Today, sea burials and funerals are almost always a choice.
Whether the military personnel died during service or served in the past, they can return to the vast expense on their final journey. Organizations like The Last Watch offer affordable, peaceful, and beautiful ashes scattering services at Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Torrance, Long Beach, Malibu, Compton, Glendale, Pasadena, and Calabasas, CA.
Professional Military Scattering of Ashes
When it comes to the final journey of a loved one, you need a professional who will handle the entire affair with compassion and wisdom. Memorial services provided an Ordained Minister, a trained celebrant, or someone in similar positions have more depth and meaning. Scattering the ashes at sea is available to everyone but, service for military personnel is different and involves an Honor Guard and special ceremony. This ensures the scattering has a military feel to it, which family members appreciate.
Scattering of Ashes Ceremony
Many people are uncertain about this ceremony because they haven’t experienced it before and don’t know if it will give them the solace they seek. Here’s a brief look at how the ceremony process is handled so you feel more comfortable with the process:
- The service provider meets with the family to finalize all details. The service is personalized according to the wishes of the decedent and their family members so this planning session is essential.
- Military scattering ashes ceremony involves a full Honor Guard and can include a flag-folding ceremony, 21-rifle volley, music, playing taps, readings by family, and other provisions. This takes about 30 minutes and isn’t a mandatory part of the military scattering of ashes process.
- After this process, family members can meet the service provider at the boat or pier, depending on their preference. The service provider will collect the ashes, place them inside the basket, carry them to the sea, and then gently lower them into the water.
- Most service providers will ring the ships bell loudly several times after the ashes are buried in water before circling the location a few times in the boat ceremoniously.
After the ceremony is complete, the service provider will provide the exact location of the scattering along with the time, which can be recorded in a certificate as a matter of permanent record. The entire process is unique and beautiful, which makes this an appealing choice for military families who want to do something special for their dearly departed loved one.
Organizations like The Last Watch perform these services with dignity and compassion, making sure the ceremony is memorable for everyone who attends. It is important to choose reliable service providers for such a task because this is the final journey of a loved one
For the State of California, the Secretary of State and Attorney General, Department of Justice, and Department of Consumer Affairs have awarded a non-profit, public benefit, charitable trust designation to The Last Watch Foundation to provide funeral services to help the Military and their families. We are the only organization in the United States to be awarded this honor. The State has also given us license to perform the scattering of ashes at sea. If a donation to The Last Watch is ever received, those funds are deposited directly into The Last Watch Foundation.