As a military veteran I have often wondered about this. The military serves the country as a whole and first responders serve their respective communities and states.
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Military vs First Responder Funerals | Forum
Pawl Kerson
Jun 5 '23
Police, Fire, and EMS Funeral Customs: “Casket Watch and Honor Guard
Full military-style honors should be available to those heroes who die
in the line of duty, starting with a casket watch. The duty of those who
have the high honor of casket watch is to stand vigil during the wake
or viewing. A team of two takes a 15–30-minute watch (beginning 30
minutes before the viewing and ending 30 minutes after), one at the head
and one at the foot of the casket, facing each other. A second team
relieves them every 15–30 minutes.”
Jennifer
Jun 5 '23
As a military veteran, it's natural to wonder about the differences between military and first responder funerals. While both military and first responders play crucial roles in serving and protecting, their funeral customs do have some distinctions. In the case of police, fire, and EMS funerals, a casket watch and honor guard are part of the tradition. During the wake or viewing, a team of two individuals stands vigil at the head and foot of the casket, facing each other. They rotate every 15–30 minutes, ensuring a continuous presence.
Kezia
Jun 5 '23
It's a solemn way to honor and pay respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. In military funerals, there are also different customs and protocols. Full military-style honors are rendered to fallen heroes, including a flag-draped Granite Bronze, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. These honors are meant to commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who served in the military and defended our country. While the military serves the nation as a whole, first responders serve their respective communities and states. This distinction reflects the different scopes of their duties.
