Veteran Support
By law, as of 1 January 2000, Congress guaranteed Veterans’ Funeral Honors. All eligible veterans are entitled to military funeral honors signifying America’s gratitude for their honorable service. Upon request, two service members will fold and present the American flag to surviving family members, and a bugler will sound “Taps.” If a bugler is not available, a high-quality CD or digital bugle will be used.
At least one member of the funeral detail will be from the deceased veteran’s parent military service. The other may be from the same service or another military service. Other authorized providers, such as members of a veteran’s organization, may be used to augment the military detail. 1 No particular rank is specified in the law, but the services by tradition have ensured the person presenting the flag to the family is at least the grade of the deceased veteran.
Once the family of an eligible veteran has requested Military Funeral Honors, Funeral Directors or those assisting the family can use this directory to locate a military point of contact to help arrange for the funeral honors detail. Click here (www.dmdc.osd.mil/mfh/) From the home page, click on the Funeral Director button and you will have the option of entering the military branch of the deceased veteran and the state. This provides the Points of Contact to arrange for a Military Funeral Honor.
AMVETS posts/members desiring to be an “official” part of the (AP3) program must receive training by a military unit designated to provide the branch specific training. The protocol for establishing/requesting this training is to call the military facility closest to you and go through the Commander’s/HQ office. All base commanders have the responsibility, by law, to support the Military Funeral Honors program and to provide the training opportunities for those wanting to participate in the (AP3) program.
AMVETS Post Honor Guards are providing Military Funeral Honors, less the two active duty service members, at a tremendous pace. For the twelve-month reporting period that ended December 2011, twenty plus posts across all National Districts, 14,200 volunteers provided 128,775 hours conducting Military Funeral Honors. (These services are considered Military Funeral Honors by the majority of the families, but are not technically counted by the DoD as part of the AP3 program because they do not include at least two active duty troops and may not have been conducted specifically with the traditions for the decedents branch of service.)
White Clover
The White Clover, meaning “remember me,” is the official flower of AMVETS. It symbolizes the states from which the U.S. Armed Forces were drawn and the worldwide battlefields on which they fought. (It is a four-leaf clover.)
Since 1946, AMVETS throughout America have brought the White Clover into their communities to benefit and assist the needy, both veterans and the general public. The White Clover program is an excellent project to raise funds that will benefit veterans’ service activities. Ideal times for this traditional project are around Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Be sure to obtain permission and acquire permits where required by law. Most communities will give full support for charitable activities such as a White Clover drive, because the proceeds are used locally. White clovers are available through the AMVETS Quartermaster.
What is a White Clover Medal?
The White Clover Medal is a National award that was developed and approved a number of years ago. It is recognition for an AMVETS member who exemplifies service to veterans, most often service to our hospitalized veterans. There is not one specific set of criteria; in fact, various Departments have differing criteria.
However, it is frequently used to recognize a Post Service Officer or an individual who has performed some special task(s) in the line of service to hospitalized veterans.
Some departments/posts award it to the person leading the most successful “White Clover Drive” since the money raised is frequently used for the benefit of patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
Some departments/posts award it to the person who represents their “AMVET of the Year,” based on the individual’s impressive accomplishments in service to veterans. Typically, departments/posts using this recognition make one award per year.
To request a White Clover Medal, please contact the AMVETS National Programs Department.
White Clover Princess Program
A few AMVETS departments also conduct a program where they select a young lady to represent AMVETS and promote the White Clover Program throughout the year at various AMVETS and public venues. This is a great way to showcase the campaign, but more importantly, bring attention to what is being done on behalf of our veterans with the funds secured through the program.
For more information, please call the AMVETS National Programs Dept.