Funeral directors and and cemetery caretakers have a big responsibility to ensure funeral honors can happen without a hitch. That being said, there’s usually something that the pallbearers must deal with. In this article, we will deal with travel to the gravesite and gravesite setup. Click this link to read the similar subject of Flag Orientation on the Casket and how to deal with it.
Casket Removal from the Coach
Pallbearers, also called Body Bearers and Casket Bearers, have two methods of removing a casket from a hearse (called a coach). Below, you see the first method I’m calling the “6 and 4” sidestep and rotation method that is most common. Less common is the “Up and Face”.
“6 and 4“. The numbers are in quotations because teams use different numbers to step away from the fender of the coach (4 or 6 sidesteps) and then the standard rotation of 4 steps to orient the foot of the casket to point in the direction of travel.
“Up and Face“. This method removes the casket and continues the travel in the direction of the head. This is accomplished when there is a very short distance to travel or there is an impediment that would be in the way and is unavoidable (a tree or monument, etc.).
Travel with the Casket
Travel is accomplished feet-first unless there are circumstances as described in “Up and Face” above. Below is a typical approach to the grave. Travel is feet-first and the family is placed to see the flag correctly.
The team can always turn around in place without rotating the casket if there is some sort of situation where the head must go first at the grave so that the family sees the flag properly. Here is a possible example.
- The pallbearers are traveling with the casket as usual to the gravesite.
- The bearers pass the grave (or could stop centered and rotate from there), halt, turn around, and
- The bearers continue the rest of the way to the grave to ensure the casket is oriented correctly for the in-ground vault and the flag is also oriented correctly for the next of kin (NOK, family).
Canton away from the Next of Kin
The canton of the flag is always laid over the left shoulder of the deceased. The head of the casket faces to the NOK’s left and that means the canton is on the opposite side of the family when the casket rests on the mockup (lowering device) over the grave. For the two-man fold, that means the canton is in the left hand of the pallbearer/folder at the head.
By the way, Do Not “Present” the Flag
Folding the American flag does not include “presenting”. This “presenting” is a current trend where the pallbearers attempt to be #ceremonialer and perform the “Flag Tilt” that doesn’t exist in the flag fold sequence except in only one case.
The only time the “tilt” is authorized is when the two who are folding do not have enough room to pop the flag flat over the casket or urn. Only then, ONLY THEN, do the folders pop the flag to the tilt and then fold from the tilt.
Having to pop to the tilt and then fold is a good visual to explain that the canton must be in the upper left-hand corner as viewed by the family. This is means the family is on the correct side of the grave, the head of the casket is pointing the right direction for placement in the vault, and the flag is oriented correctly.
Again, there is no such thing as popping to horizontal, tilting, moving back to horizontal, and then folding. Note – I’ve seen video of a six-man folding team where the three on the side of the family actually kneel(!) to “present” the flag by tilting it. This is absolutely unbelievable bad taste and completely flaunting standardized flag protocol.
Back to the article-
NOK Placement Matters
Cemeteries are laid out in efficient rows with caskets generally facing one direction. Older cemeteries can have some quirks, but most caretakers and funeral directors are able to create a situation that is easily navigable by the pallbearers. There are, however, times when those who are involved do not understand that NOK placement is very important in regards to casket orientation.
Having said this, in some cases, there may be a situation where the family is on the wrong side because of terrain, a tree or monument, or vault lid, etc. For this, the team should have a contingency to make sure the flag is folded while properly oriented to the family. To facilitate this, I suggest performing Head Over Foot.
Stars Over Stripes and Head Over Foot
This technique is used when the flag is upside down or backwards, you can use Stars Over Stripes to bring the flag to the correct orientation for two folders to begin folding.
If you have six pallbearers and the flag is backwards or the family is on the wrong side of the grave (the situation we are talking about here), you could use Head Over Foot that is similar to the above technique to bring the flag to the correct orientation.
Note- since I just coined the term as I’m writing this, I don’t have a video of Head Over Foot, but I’m sure there are enterprising individuals out there who can imagine the technique and how to accomplish it. You could do this relatively easily with six folders.
For two folders, the two would have to gather the flag into the arms of one folder, sidestep toward the family, come together, grasp the opposite ends, step back, (sidestep to centered on the casket, pop to horizontal, fold the lengthwise folds, step toward the family, and continue with the triangle folds) and begin folding the lengthwise and then triangle folds.