DRL INVESTIGATES:THE TRUTH ABOUT MILITARY FUNERAL PROTOCOL

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Recently DRL posted a letter from a veteran who was upset that the wording of the presentation of the flag at his uncle’s military funeral was changed.  (Click here to go to the orginal post) DRL checked with Snopes before posting and it was listed as “Undetermined”.  Since posting, we’ve heard from several people who were concerned that this was a rumor. Since we are committed to voicing the opinions of ALL our readers, I did some research on the post. This is what I found.

Summary of the eRumor: The message describes a first-hand account from a man who attended the funeral of his uncle, a U.S. Army Korean War combat veteran. The writer said that he knew that when the flag was ceremonially folded and presented to the family the presenter would normally say something like "On behalf of the President of the United States" we thank you for the faithful service of your loved one. At this funeral, however, the presenter substituted "President of the United States" with "Secretary of Defense." The writer later asked the presenter about it and was told that there had been a change in the protocol and that "The White House notified all military funeral service detachments to immediately remove 'the President' and insert 'the Secretary of Defense."

The Truth: 

The email is authentic and TruthOrFiction.com communicated with the writer, John G. Martich Weirton who said this happened at a Pittsburgh cemetery at the funeral of his uncle, U.S. Army Korean War Veteran Daniel Martich.   A spokesperson for U.S. Army Public Affairs Department told TruthOrFiction.com that there has not been any official change in the protocol of presenting the flag to the family of a member of the military who has died.

THINK BEFORE YOU RANT

Marion Pellicano Ambrose


“A rant is a speech or text that does not present a calm argument; rather, it is typically an enthusiastic speech or talk or lecture on an idea, a person or an institution.  Rants can be based on partial fact or may be entirely factual but written in a comedic/satirical form. Rants can also be used in the defense of an individual, idea or organization. Rants of this type generally occur after the subject has been attacked by another individual or group.”  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rant)


This is the Wikipedia definition of a rant. Please notice that it does not say “it is required that you use a great deal of profanity”. Also please note that a rant must be based, at least partially, on FACT. I point this out because I’m tired of reading “rants” in magazines and on the internet (in places other than DRL of course) that feel it necessary to use every four letter word in the book and base their opinion on hearsay. (What ever happened to objective reporting by the way? Must EVERY article be a rant?) I’d love to read an article that presents all the facts of a situation and lets me make up my own mind or form my own opinion. What a novel idea!


I am totally in favor of free speech and freedom of the press, but please don’t insult my intelligence by trying to influence my views by slinging what you should be using to fertilize your garden! Let’s start demanding that people who wish to write persuasive articles get their facts right and their ducks in a row. Stop reinforcing the “dumbing down” of America (or anywhere else for that matter) by giving credence to rants not backed up by truth. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I’m the first to defend that right, but an opinion should be formed only after looking at the facts, weighing the arguments, both pro and con, and using the God given gift of common sense before trying to convince the world of your views! Yes, make it funny: make it sarcastic: even make it angry if you choose, but make your mother proud and show that you have a decent vocabulary and have taken at least a minute or two to think before you rant!