Rhode Island § 30-25-1 - Burial of Veterans

§ 30-25-1. Firing squad for funerals.

Whenever requested by the family of any honorably discharged, deceased soldier, sailor, airperson, or marine of any of the wars in which the United States has been engaged, or by a veterans’ organization duly authorized to conduct the funeral of the deceased soldier, sailor, airperson, or marine, the adjutant general of the state shall furnish a firing squad, and wherever possible, complete with a bugler to play “Taps”, live and not synthesized or pre-recorded. The bugler may be on active duty or an honorably discharged veteran, for the funeral of the deceased soldier, sailor, airperson, or marine; provided, however, that when the national guard of the state shall have been called, ordered, or drafted into the service of the United States for war or an emergency, the adjutant general shall furnish the firing squad from the first regiment, Rhode Island state guard; and wherever possible, complete with a bugler to play “Taps”, live and not synthesized or pre-recorded. The bugler may be on active duty or an honorably discharged veteran; provided, further, however, that when any member of the armed forces of the United States dies in service and his or her body is brought back to the state for burial, whenever requested by the family of the deceased or by a veterans’ organization duly authorized to conduct the funeral of the deceased member of the armed forces, and it is not possible to arrange with the federal government for a firing squad for the funeral of the deceased member of the armed forces, the adjutant general of the state is authorized and directed to furnish a firing squad, and wherever possible, complete with a bugler to play “Taps”, live and not synthesized or pre-recorded, for the funeral of the deceased member of the armed forces.