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A Tribute to Veterans

A Tribute to Veterans

This is the month we set aside to honor American veterans – those valiant soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen of the U.S. Armed Forces – who all share a dedication to the defense of freedom. For generations, veterans have honored us with this sacrifice, and so all of us here at Found and Sons take our responsibility to honor them in death very seriously. We work hand in hand with their families in Culpeper and Fredericksburg to create a personalized tribute that celebrates the veteran’s life, passion, and special moments. There are a number of meaningful ways to pay tribute to these heroes, and we offer all of these options here at Found and Sons.

First, upon the request of a surviving family member, all honorably discharged veterans – regardless of rank or whether or not they were on active duty – qualify for military funeral honors. A U.S flag is provided for their casket or urn in honor of their military service and is given to the next-of-kin after the funeral. The military funeral ceremony itself consists of the folding and presenting of the American flag by two uniformed military officers and the customary playing of Taps by a bugler. Additionally, the family of the deceased will receive a special certificate from the President of the United States, known as the Presidential Memorial Certificate. This document further expresses recognition of the veteran’s dedication to his or her country. Many are also eligible for special funeral and burial benefits due to their honorable service.

In addition to military funeral honors, another particularly good way to highlight a veteran’s life is to create a funeral memorial program. As part of this program, you can incorporate pictures of them in uniform as well as information about his or her military experience, including years of active service, tour(s) of duty, and any medals or honors received. Many choose to create a memorial program that provides a look at their friend or family member’s life on a deeper level. If that’s your choice, know you can include a few of your loved one’s favorite stories from their time in active duty. This is a wonderful way to highlight the veteran’s special qualities and the impact he or she had on others.

The best gift family and friends can give to a deceased veteran at his or her death is a tribute which truly celebrates who they were as an individual. We can help you create a unique and meaningful service that focuses not on the veteran’s death, but on the honorable life, he or she lived.

Families Wishes VS Your Wishes

Your Family’s Wishes vs. Your Wishes:

One of the primary benefits to planning your own funeral is having the ability to make your wishes known. Your family, no doubt, wants to honor you by fulfilling your final wishes, and preplanning allows you to communicate those desires to them clearly. If for any reason, there could be a disagreement in the family about the way you are to be laid to rest, preplanning with us makes sure your wishes are followed to the letter and removes that pressure off your family.

Here are three ways prearranging with Found and Sons can put you in the driver’s seat:

1.) You have the ability to discuss all of the options available to you, in depth, with one of our prearrangement counselors.

You may come here to our beautiful, comfortable facility to plan, or if you’d prefer, we can come to your home. Just let us know what is most comfortable for you. Either way, you’ll be armed with all the information you’ll need to make the best decision for you.

2.) You can choose, for yourself, whether you want to be buried traditionally or cremated.

While cremation is becoming more and more popular, for some people, there are still cultural and religious considerations to weigh. Don’t leave any doubt for your loved ones about how you feel about your final disposition.

3.) Your funeral can reflect who you were – not who other people thought you were.

Hate the idea of being laid to rest with a lot of fanfare? Plan an intimate gathering for friends and family with minimal music or tributes. On the other hand, if you want to use your service to share a message with the world about who you were, we can make that happen for you. The experienced staff at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels and Cremation Service can help you plan every last detail – from the music to the eulogy, to more personalized aspects like a dove release or serving your favorite dessert. You can even host a beautiful, catered event in your honor at one of our reception centers.

At Found and Sons, we do encourage you to discuss all of these decisions with your family. But ultimately, you need to choose what brings you peace of mind. By pre-planning with Found and Sons, you can rest assured knowing your wishes will be heard and every detail handled.

If you were preplanning today, what is the number one thing you’d like to incorporate into your farewell?

Three Myths About Preplanning

Top Three Myths About Preplanning

In life, we are almost always planning ahead for our future. Planning toward a personal goal or planning for the next phase of life. We set a plan so we can know where we’re headed. Planning relieves stress and answers many questions ahead of time. One thing people do not always plan for is their final arrangements. When a loved one unexpectedly passes away, you can expect family and friends to have conversations centered around questions such as:
What type of service did he want?
Where did she want to be buried?
Did he want traditional burial or cremation?

This is especially true if final wishes were not preplanned. Preplanning is a clear solution for Culpeper and Fredericksburg families. Some even call it a gift to friends and family who need time to grieve. But people sometimes hesitate to preplan, citing concerns like cost or flexibility. At Found and Sons Funeral Chapels & Cremation Service, we want to address the top three concerns, or “myths,” about preplanning, so you can clearly see the benefits and be able to make the right choice for you and your family.

1.) You are required to pay for your arrangements ahead of time.
This is definitely one of the biggest misconceptions about preplanning your funeral. While we do offer pre-payment options in order to make life less complicated when a loved one passes, prepaying is a choice and not a necessity. Preplanning can simply mean trusting us to keep your information and final wishes on file with our staff.

2.) Once you’ve planned with one funeral home, you’re locked into that choice.
Well, it depends on who you plan with. If you plan with us at Found and Sons, you can change your mind at any time. We understand that circumstances can change or people move, so we make our services and arrangements completely transferable.

3.) Preplanning leaves family and friends out of the planning process.
We strongly encourage you to include your family in preplanning, if they desire. While it’s better to make the big decisions in advance, many of the smaller details can wait until the time of need. For example, your loved ones might want to choose flowers and songs that will help celebrate your life and get them through this difficult time. For items that are important to you, you may want to discuss your preferences with your family in advance. Your loved ones will appreciate that you preplanned your final wishes, and they will not be left wondering what you really wanted.

We can help you with all these funeral options and make sure everything is done the way you want. Feel free to contact us with more questions about preplanning so we can continue to challenge the myths and prove there are only benefits.