Monthly Archives: October 2022

Ceremony Crowns

Funeral crowning celebrates the life of the deceased at funeral home services in Oakland, CA. But what kind of crown should you use in the service?

In crowning ceremonies, a crown is presented by a family member or officiant and then placed on the deceased’s head inside the coffin. Those in attendance also sing group songs and hymns, give sympathies to the family of the deceased, and generally celebrate the deceased’s life on earth. Funeral crowning celebrates the life of the deceased. The act of a crowning ceremony, even removed from the context of homegoing, is to offer a final gift of grace to the deceased which they may not have received in life, serving as a recognition of their importance in the lives of others and a crowning of the life they lived. You can also view a crowning ceremony as a way to put a more positive spin on a traditional funeral, making it an event that allows for the wide range of emotions that come with losing a friend, family member, or loved one.

Crowns used in funeral crowning ceremonies are usually provided by the funeral home. Most providers have some in stock meant to be loaned out during ceremonies and services. However, some bereaved choose to purchase a crown specifically for their lost loved one.

Some of the most common types of funeral crowns include costume crowns. Costume crowns and tiaras, like those found in Halloween shops or accessory stores, are flashy and bright, making them ideal for use in funeral crowning ceremonies. If you choose a costume crown for a crowning, look for ones with lots of rhinestones for a lustrous, eye-catching effect. You can also use wooden crowns. Wooden funeral crowns are natural yet powerful. They can symbolize a connection to the earth as well as wisdom, strength of spirit, and other qualities of the deceased. As wooden funeral crowns are less common, it may be difficult to find one to purchase and therefore it might be best to make your own.

There are also flower crowns and DIY crowns. Flower crowns and hand-woven head wreathes are great for crowning ceremonies as they are beautiful, natural, and have a long-standing tradition in memorializing the dead. In ancient European societies, unmarried women who died were given flower crowns to symbolize and bless their new lives as brides of Christ. People who are deeply affected by the death of a loved one may find comfort in the act of making a funeral crown for the deceased. DIY crowns can also be made to perfectly suit the deceased and what made them unique, serving as a symbol of their individualism, achievements, or another aspect of their lives. If you choose to make the funeral crown, be sure you communicate it with your provider and bring it to them well in advance of the ceremony.

We are here to help if you want to learn more about funeral crowns or Oakland, CA funeral homes. Call or visit us today for more information on what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.

Want to Involve Your Kids in a Memorial?

Your kids deserve to participate in a memorial after a cremation service in Oakland, CA as it will not only make them feel included, but it will also help them express their own grief in constructive ways. Keep reading to learn more about involving your kids in a memorial.

You need to make sure the service is memorable, respectful, and meaningful, but you should also make sure your kids feel included as they knew and loved the deceased, too. What can you do to help them feel included? These tips can help.

To begin, try making them part of the service. While younger children might not be able to be part of a memorial or funeral, older kids certainly can. In fact, many older kids would be honored be part of remembering and celebrating their lost loved ones. You can make kids part of the service by having them do a reading, make a short speech, lead a prayer, or even just stand up at the front with the rest of the family.

To make them feel included, add a few kid-friendly games or activities to the service schedule to make sure they are part of the event. Set up a children’s table with coloring books or crafts or hire a babysitter to help keep them entertained during the long day. Even having a side room where they can go if the service gets overwhelming will be helpful. It won’t hurt to put in a little extra effort with your little ones while planning a memorial or funeral. You don’t want anyone to feel neglected. Try putting aside some one-on-one time for your younger children while planning. You can take them with you while running errands and stop for lunch or an ice cream after, or just add a bit of extra play time into your daily schedule.

What about assigning them responsibilities? One sure-fire way to keep everyone happy and feeling involved is to actually involve everyone. Handing out responsibilities to your kids is sure to keep them happy and help them feel like they’re part of the experience. Plus, there’s lots to do when planning and executing a service, so the extra help will be appreciated. Get them to help with researching good quotes for speeches, helping guests make travel arrangements, or drawing pictures for decorations. Your other kids will feel excited and engaged if you give them a personal assignment to help make their lost loved one’s service the best it can be. You can also add activities for them and give them one-on-one attention. If your other children are younger, they might feel left out of the service and the planning because such events usually don’t have activities for younger kids.

Want more tips on getting your kids involved or on planning memorial services for your lost loved one? We’re committed to making sure your lost loved one’s service and Oakland, CA cremation service is as meaningful and respectful as possible. Call or visit us today to learn more.

All About Military Services

A veteran can earn a military honors service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA by serving their country in an honorable way. Every honorably discharged veteran is eligible for standard military honors, no matter which branch of the armed forces they served in, whether they died in battle, or if they lived a long life.

Military Funeral Service Etiquette

These tips will help shed light on military funeral etiquette, like where to sit. Only immediate family members of the deceased should sit in the front row, as this is a pale of honor and makes it easier to give them the folded flag. Everyone seated should stay seated throughout the entire service, unless directed to stand. Keep in mind, only current or former military members should salute, but all civilians should remove hats or headgear during the salute. Also, when dressing, remember that men should wear a darkly colored suit and a tie, while women should wear a dark suite, dress, or skirt and blouse. All military personnel should wear their dress uniforms. Similar to standard funerals, its best to dress as conservatively as possible out of respect for the deceased.

Types of Military Services

Did you know there are two kinds of military honors services: standard military honors and full military honors? In a standard military honors service, a military chaplain officiates the service and serves as a counselor for the bereaved before and after the service. A standard service also includes a United States flag that is draped over the casket for the service and given to the family afterwards as a keepsake to honor their lost loved one’s service. An honor guard to present arms and salute the deceased is another part of a standard military honors. At the appropriate time, two members of the guard will perform the flag folding ceremony. The guard will fold the flag into a tri-corner shape. The guard will present the flag to the next of kin. Finally, a standard military honors service includes the playing of Taps, a standard bugle call during which everyone should stand and face the flag. Military personnel will salute, and civilians will place their right hand over their hearts.

A full military honors service includes the same elements as standard service as well as several other honors, like a star-ranking officers are honored with a fired salute. In this tradition, the deceased will receive a specific number of gun salute depending on his or her military rank. For example, Five-Star ranking Generals, along with chiefs of staff, cabinet members, and other high-ranking US officials will receive a 19-gun salute, Three-Star ranking officers will receive a 15-gun salute, and One-Star ranking officers will receive an 11-gun salute. The full 21-gun salute is reserved for the President as Commander-in-Chief. A full military honors funeral also includes a military band and an escort platoon to accompany the deceased to burial or the service. Finally, a Colonel/Captain and above will receive standard military honors and a caparisoned, riderless horse to symbolize a fallen leader.

We are here to help if you want more information on military honors or Oakland, CA funeral homes. Please give us a call or pay us a visit us today.

Military Funeral Flags After the Cremation Service

Here are some unique and helpful ideas to inspire you for what you can do with your lost loved one’s military flag after their memorial and cremation service in Oakland, CA.

A military funeral flag is a standard United States flag that’s draped over the coffin or urn of a veteran or military service member during their funeral, memorial, or internment ceremony. Also known as a military burial flag, the flag is folded up after the service is over 13 times to form a triangle, perhaps representing the 13 original colonies and the shape of the hats traditionally worn during the Revolutionary War. After its folded, the flag is given to the deceased’s closest family member, like a spouse, parents, sibling, or other next of kin. The VA provides funeral flags at no cost for both active duty and retired veterans of any of the armed force divisions. Civilians can request flags, but they do come at a cost.

There are several options that both honor the memory of your lost loved one and respect the nature of the flag. Some of them include buying a personalized military flag case or a memorabilia and flag display case. There are many flag cases available for sale, such as personalized cases that display the veteran’s service branch, name, and rank. The wooden case keeps the flag free from dust, and a felt-lined lid provides an area to proudly display awards and insignia.

You can also fly the flag or display it in a homemade case. While the official United States Flag Code does not mention whether or not you are allowed to fly a military funeral flag, there are two main factions divided on this issue. Some believe that once a funeral flag is folded it should remain that way, meaning it cannot be flown. Others believe flying the flag is a noble and patriotic way of honoring the deceased. Make your own case to display the funeral flag on your mantle, on a shelf, or on a wall. This is a great way to invest time and meaningful craftsmanship into honoring your lost loved one. If your lost loved one was cremated, you can also buy a flag display case that is designed to fit perfectly on top of their cremation urn. This way, you can keep your lost loved one’s remains and their funeral flag in the same place.

Showcase your lost loved one’s military memorabilia and their funeral flag with a special display case. Such cases are perfect to exhibit awards, patches, photos, insignia, and more. You can choose a wall-mountable or standing versions of this kind of case so you can display memorabilia and the flag wherever it fits best in your home.

We are here to help if you want more information on military funeral flags or Oakland, CA cremation services. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do to help during your time of loss or preplanning.

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