Carriage Service

An acknowledgment of service to America

Miramar National Cemetery is the only cemetery in North America that offers a Final Honor service to the families of veterans. This tribute will be a lasting legacy to those who served honorably, or sacrificed their lives in service to our nation; a thank you for their service to America. Final Honor service is available for the interment of any veteran, regardless of rank.

Final Honor offers its funeral carriage service at the cemetery every Monday and Tuesday for a donation to the organization. Because of budget constraints, our donations only allow us to provide the service free for veterans. However, many families have expressed a desire for the spouse of their veteran to be memorialized in the same way for a small donation. Final Honor will be happy to accommodate those families. This is another way we are raising funds to keep the carriage service going on Mondays and Tuesdays. Please call: 760-445-1981 to make arrangements for carriage service.

Who is eligible for this service?

The families of any United States military veteran eligible for burial in a national cemetery may schedule Final Honor service at Miramar National Cemetery. We provide service for five to nine veterans’ interments every day we are at the cemetery. Final Honor also provides service, on a fee basis, at other cemeteries and venues, per arrangements with the company.

What does Final Honor service include?

Final Honor service includes a traditional horse-drawn funeral carriage, a white horse, a uniformed driver and attendant. The casket or urn(s) is placed in the carriage from the funeral home hearse, and transported from the cortege assembly point directly to the commitment shelter or gravesite. Family and funeral attendees may follow the carriage in procession in the vehicle they drove to the cemetery.

Can I make a contribution to Final Honor

Final Honor welcomes contributions from families, individuals, civic organizations or corporations. Final Honor is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the State of California. Contributions to Final Honor can be made through the FinalHonor.net. Organizations also may elect to sponsor Final Honor (see below).

What costs does my contribution cover?

Your contribution will cover costs that include travel to and from the cemetery or other venue with horse, carriage and staff in a horse trailer; maintenance of vehicles, horses and their equipment; staff uniforms; insurance, and our guarantee of first-class service.

If my organization decides to sponsor Final Honor, what can we expect in return?

The horse and carriage are transported together in a 24-foot horse trailer pulled by a truck. Corporate logos and names can be tastefully displayed on the two vehicles as "proud sponsors." All business cards and promotional literature, as well as our website, will include the names of all sponsors at any level, with the largest sponsor having "top billing”. Final Honor will endorse sponsors' products and services, if at all possible. In some cases, sponsors may wish to remain anonymous. Whatever the sponsors' preference, we will abide by that choice.