Nearly every day, somewhere in the U.S., a service member is laid to rest, sometimes with full military honors, and sadly, sometimes not. In Glennville, Ga., about an hour west of Savannah, funeral director Bradley Anderson told Military.com, his efforts to secure full military honors for a deceased veteran of the U.S. Navy were denied, apparently due to distance.
“The veteran I was working with had 12 years with the Army, and then he retired out of the Navy after 8 years of service. So he had the required 20 years to get a full military detail,” Anderson said in an interview with Military.com. “We reached out to the Navy because he really wanted the rifle shot in a gun salute at his funeral, and the family wanted it too. But the Navy would only provide us with two people to fold the American flag and one person to play taps. They said the Navy policy is that they cannot travel more than 50 miles with their rifles.”
Anderson’s funeral home was able to get the local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars to complete the honors ceremony with a rifle salute for 80-year-old Thomas Everage, who died August 12, 2026, and was buried on August 18. The Vietnam veteran received multiple Purple Hearts and served the country for two decades in both the U.S. Army and the Navy, but was denied a full honors ceremony from the Navy, Anderson said.
“The US Navy should have provided that. But the guys at the cemetery told me for the past 17 years, the Navy has not done it,” Anderson explained. “It’s been a Navy rule. But the Army, the Marines, and the Air Force will come wherever we request them to come to carry out a rifle salute. There has not been an issue with any other branch, but the US Navy.”
The issue appears to center around the rifles that are used in gun salutes during ceremonies with military honors, and the distance an honor guard would have to travel with those rifles. Military.com reached out to the Navy for a statement, asking whether there are distance or financial rules that limit honor ceremonies for deceased veterans.
In response, a Navy Region Southeast spokesperson expressed condolences for the loss of Everage, and explained the 50-mile Navy rifle rule.
“Navy Region Southeast extends our deepest respect and gratitude for Mr. Tommy Everidge’s 20 years of honorable and decorated service in both the Army and Navy,” the statement read. “Eligible veterans are guaranteed core funeral honors, which include the folding and presentation of the American flag and the sounding of Taps. Navy policy requires that rifle details are available for service members who die while on active duty, Medal of Honor recipients, and former prisoners of war. Navy Region Southeast goes beyond that requirement by also offering Navy rifle details for other funeral honors conducted within 50 miles of a supporting installation.”
In short, Navy rifle salutes at service member funerals are limited to locations no further than 50 miles from a military base.
Anderson said the official application for a military funeral makes no mention of expense or distance limits regarding rifle salutes. He added that other branches of the military have no such limits.
“We have a form we fill out and send to them. But the Navy turned us down,” Anderson said. “We called the U.S. Army, but they said that the service would have to come from the last branch where a veteran served. In Tommy Everage’s case, his last tour of duty was with the Navy.”
Criteria for Military Honors Ceremonies
The Navy’s official website describes the features of a military honors funeral, including the playing of Taps and the folding of an American flag. But it makes no mention of a rifle salute. Instead, the website lists the following criteria:
1. Two or more members of the armed service, one from the parent service, playing Taps, folding and presenting the American flag to the veteran’s family.
2. A completed Funeral Honors Request Form along with a legible copy of proof of honorable service.
3. Burial flags must be provided by the requester.
4. The Funeral Honors Team will arrive 45 minutes before the scheduled event time.
5. Funeral Honors will only be rendered once per eligible veteran.
By contrast, the U.S. Army’s website includes protocols and other information for additional military honors beyond a two-person flag-folding and the playing of Taps.
“Depending on available resources and personnel, other elements may be added to the minimum two-person uniformed detail. These elements may include a rifle volley, color guard, pallbearers, caisson and military flyover,” the website reads. “Trained volunteers with the Authorized Provider Partnership Program and veterans services organizations may augment the two-person service detail as members of the firing party or color guard. They can also serve as pallbearers and assist in other elements of the process.”
Anderson said he wants the Navy rule changed to match Army protocols and those of other branches of the Armed Forces that provide rifle salutes.
“I reached out to Congressman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Congressman Rick Allen (R-Ga.), but they couldn’t get anything changed on their end,” Anderson said. “I think the U.S. Navy should change the rule and allow them to be able to travel with the rifles.”
Decorated Vietnam Veteran Served for 20 Years
According to his obituary, Everage was born in Claxton, Ga., on March 31, 1946. During his military career, Everage served two combat tours in Vietnam, where his courage and valor were recognized with three Purple Hearts and the Air Medal. After his Army tenure, Everage joined the U.S. Navy, where he served for another eight years.
He is survived by his son, Patrick Everage of Arkansas; siblings, Ronald (Anna) Everage of Texas, Sharon Sapp and Karon Anderson, both of Claxton; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Anderson said Everage deserved full U.S. Navy honors during his funeral service because of the sacrifices he made during his decorated military career.
“No matter if you got a Purple Heart or not, if you served 20 years, it’s the least the Navy could do,” Anderson said. “If the Army can do it, the Air Force can do it, the Marines can do it, then why can’t the Navy?”
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