Funeral for a veteran with American Flag

[marie g bushnell]

I had just delivered all the pieces for a funeral which included a garland (for inside the casket) with coordinating flowers. My client requested all bright colors, oranges, reds, purples, golds. I did ask her if her dad was a vet, before we even got to the choice of colors.
But it was never said there would be the American Flag inside the lid of the open casket.

The funeral director called me and asked me where the garland was suppose to go. I said inside the lid and he then told me about the flag.
So I don't know where it went.

The funeral Dir. has been in business forever and it was he that called me, not an employee.

What is proper etiquette in this case?

I do know when wearing a military uniform, no bout. or corsage is allowed to be pinned on military uniforms.

 

[Taylors_Flowers]

When we run in to this situation, which we often do... the funeral directors will place the American flag on a small, table top easel next to the casket..

But I'm not sure if doing that is proper etiquette either? Displaying the flag like that?

We often ask if they are a veteran, as well .Most people don't know that there will be a folded flag in the casket - at least that is what we run in to. So we try to let them know that too many "things" inside the lid might get too full. Sometimes they'll want photos, etc. We even had one family want some flowers pinned on a bag of reese's pieces because the dad/grandpa always ate them! So we pinned that inside the casket lid.

 

[Rhonda]

First, I never accept anything for inside the lid unless it's immediate family or I speak with the family ... Some don't want anything inside that's not from immediate family.
If it was immediate family, did the FD make the decision to place the flag there and not the family? Yes, we've had them move the flag to a side table or folded like a sheaf along the opening of the bottom and lid of the casket - 1/2 couch - we don't do full couch here (hardly ever). Was there a casket spray? If not, wind the garland on the foot??
All discussions before delivery with customer/family members..... (hard to do if some family doesn't speak to the other ones, then the FD and I decide when we show up with flowers)

 

[marie g bushnell]

I was only in touch with the daughter and she decided on everything, but never told me about a flag. The casket was open and the spray, of course, was hung above the lid.
I didn't want to make a decision on another place for the garland since my client saw it in the funeral books and it was inside the lid.
I think the funeral director, being in the business forever, should have made the appropriate decision.
The body was flown in from Florida and the immediate family was not local.

I hope I'm not on the "bad florist" list for this one.

 

[BOSS]

What is proper etiquette in this case?

The only rule is, there are no rules anymore...

What ever the family wants, they should get...IMHO