Chapter VA 17
MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS PROGRAM
VA 17.02 Process for arranging military funeral honors. VA 17.03 Provision of military funeral honors. VA 17.04 Military funeral honors at state veterans cemeteries. VA 17.05 Eligibility, reimbursement and training and certification for providing military funeral honors. VA 17.06 Military funeral honors coin. VA 17.01VA 17.01 Definitions. In this chapter: VA 17.01(1)(1) “Department” means the department of veterans affairs. VA 17.01(2)(2) “Military funeral honors coin” means a coin created by the department for presentation with a flag during military funeral honors. VA 17.01(3)(3) “Military funeral honors team” means a team of individuals employed by the department for the purpose of providing military funeral honors. VA 17.01(4)(4) “Veterans organization” means a local unit of a member organization of the council of veterans programs, as identified in s. 15.497 (2), Stats. VA 17.01 HistoryHistory: CR 03-110: cr. Register March 2004 No. 579, eff. 4-1-04. VA 17.02VA 17.02 Process for arranging military funeral honors. Except as provided under s. VA 17.04, a funeral director or a family member may initiate a request for military funeral honors by contacting the department. Upon verification of the individual’s eligibility through a review of the individual’s discharge documents or other trustworthy documentation, the department shall coordinate the provision of military funeral honors under s. VA 17.03. VA 17.02 NoteNote: Military funeral honors may be requested by contacting the department at (877) 944-6667.
VA 17.02 HistoryHistory: CR 03-110: cr. Register March 2004 No. 579, eff. 4-1-04. VA 17.03VA 17.03 Provision of military funeral honors. The following types of honors may be rendered for a deceased veteran: VA 17.03(1)(1) Basic honors. The department shall arrange for the attendance at a funeral of at least 2 uniformed service representatives. At least one of these representatives shall be from the branch of service of the deceased. Taps shall be sounded and a flag shall be folded and presented to the next of kin. Taps may be sounded in person or with the aid of an electronic device provided by a military funeral honors team, military service personnel, or a veterans organization. VA 17.03(2)(2) Full honors. Upon the request of the family and when available, the department shall arrange for a firing detail of at least three individuals in addition to the honors provided under sub. (1). VA 17.03 HistoryHistory: CR 03-110: cr. Register March 2004 No. 579, eff. 4-1-04. VA 17.04VA 17.04 Military funeral honors at state veterans cemeteries. Military funeral honors shall be provided at a cemetery operated by the department under s. 45.51 or 45.61, Stats., unless a family directs the department not to perform any honors. The family shall be notified of the department’s intent to provide military funeral honors when the burial arrangements are being made. VA 17.05VA 17.05 Eligibility, reimbursement and training and certification for providing military funeral honors. VA 17.05(1)(1) Eligibility. In order to receive reimbursement for providing military funeral honors, a veterans organization shall do all of the following: VA 17.05(1)(a)(a) Complete and file with the department a Taxpayer Identification Number Verification Form. VA 17.05(1)(b)(b) Submit a request for reimbursement on a form developed by the department, within 90 days of providing military funeral honors. VA 17.05 NoteNote: Taxpayer identification number verification forms and stipend reimbursement forms may be obtained at no charge from the State of Wisconsin, Department of Veterans Affairs, PO Box 7843, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7843 or by calling (877) 944-6667.
VA 17.05(2)(a)(a) Reimbursement to veterans organizations for providing military funeral honors shall be as follows: VA 17.05(2)(a)1.1. If a single veterans organization provides basic honors, $25. VA 17.05(2)(a)3.3. If 2 or more veterans organizations participate in providing full honors and one of the organizations provides a firing detail, $50. The organizations may request that the department split the reimbursement. VA 17.05(2)(a)4.4. If 2 or more veterans organizations participate in providing basic honors, $25. Payment shall be to one veterans organization, as determined by the department. VA 17.05(2)(b)(b) A veterans organization may not receive an honorarium or donation or request payment from the funeral home or the family for military funeral honors for which reimbursement is sought under this section. VA 17.05(2)(c)(c) Notwithstanding par. (a) the department may not reimburse a veterans organization if federal funding is available to reimburse the veterans organization for providing military funeral honors. The veterans organization shall request reimbursement from federal sources. If a veterans organization receives federal funding for providing military funeral honors at one funeral in a day, the department may reimburse the organization for the provision of military funeral honors at any additional funerals on that day. VA 17.05 NoteNote: Information regarding federal funding sources for military funeral honors may be obtained by contacting the department at (877) 944-6667.
VA 17.05(3)(3) Training and certification. Effective July 1, 2004, a veterans organization shall satisfactorily complete or be scheduled for a training and certification program approved by the department to be eligible to receive reimbursement for providing funeral honors. As a continuing condition of eligibility for reimbursement, a veterans organization having a 60% or greater turnover in personnel in a 12 month period or identified by the department as failing to meet minimal requirements in the provision of military funeral honors shall undergo and successfully complete a refresher training program approved by the department. VA 17.05 HistoryHistory: CR 03-110: cr. Register March 2004 No. 579, eff. 4-1-04. VA 17.06VA 17.06 Military funeral honors coin. At the request of a veterans organization, the department may authorize a veterans organization to present a military funeral honors coin to the family in conjunction with the provision of military funeral honors under the following circumstances: VA 17.06(1)(1) A veteran organization shall be scheduled or have satisfactorily completed the funeral honors training and certification program approved by the department. VA 17.06(2)(2) A veterans organization shall agree to purchase the coins directly from the vendor approved by the department or from the department. VA 17.06 HistoryHistory: CR 03-110: cr. Register March 2004 No. 579, eff. 4-1-04.
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