AMERICAN LEGION DISTRICT 22

A Guide for the United States Navy Burial At Sea Program

United States Navy Mortuary Affairs Burial At Sea Program

Please read through this entire page.

BURIAL AT SEA (BAS) is a means of final disposition of remains that is performed on United States Naval vessels. The committal ceremony is performed while the ship is deployed. Therefore, family members are not allowed to be present. The commanding officer of the ship assigned to perform the ceremony will make notification to the family of the date, time, latitude and longitude, once the committal service has been completed.

Eligibility: Individuals eligible for this program are:

(1) Active Duty Members of the uniformed services; (2) Retirees and veterans who were honorably discharged. (3) U.S. Civilian Marine Personnel of the Military Sealift Command; and (4) Dependent family members of active duty personnel, retirees, and veterans of the uniformed services.

How to get Started: After the death of the individual for whom the request for Burial at Sea is being made, the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD) should print out and complete the Burial at Sea Request Form (provided below). Supporting documents which must accompany this request are:

(1) A photocopy of the death certificate; (2) The burial transit permit or the cremation certificate; and

This is required for burial at sea. To get here in San Diego County;

Burial Permits

For more information send us an email or phone 619-692-5733. Email; http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hhsa/email.html?sendto=PHS_VITAL_BURIAL_PERMIT

To obtain a burial permit IN PERSON (3851 Rosecrans St. Ste 802):

To obtain a burial permit you will need the following information and documents available when you arrive:

1. The decedents full name 2. Date of birth 3. Date of death 4. City of Death 5. County (if death occurred in California)/ State (if death occurred outside California) 6. An original death certificate or an original transit/burial permit

The cost for a burial permit is $12.00. Payment may be cash, check or money order payable to Health & Human Services Agency.

Our office is open: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

United States Navy Mortuary Affairs Burial At Sea Program

To obtain a burial permit BY MAIL

To request a burial permit, you need to completely fill out the Application and Permit for Disposition of Human Remains for State of California (Provided below).

Note: Its important that the permit is filled out completely in BLACK INK and correctly; Cross-outs, type-over, white outs, erasures, etc. are UNACCEPTABLE. See sample on how to complete a burial permit.

Please return the completed permit along with an Original Death Certificate or Original Transit/Burial Permit. If your request does not include these items, it will be rejected as incomplete and returned to you without being processed.

The cost for a burial permit is $12.00. Payment may be check or money order payable to Health and Human Services Agency. DO NOT SEND CASH.

Please mail your application to:

HHSA Office of Vital Records and Statistics 3851 Rosecrans St. Ste 802 San Diego, CA 92110

(3) A copy of the DD Form 214, discharge certificate, or retirement order.

Note: the PADD is either the spouse or dependent with Power of Attorney if Spouse is unable to be the PADD. If the Spouse is also deceased then immediate family; Son/Daughter.

Burial Flag: A Burial Flag is required for all committal services performed aboard United States Naval vessels, with the exception of family members who are not authorized a burial flag. The PADD may wish to send a flag with the remains/cremains to be flown on the vessel during the committal service. Following the services at sea, that flag will be returned to the PADD. If the PADD does not wish to send a burial flag, the ship's flag will be flown during the committal service, but no flag will be forwarded to the family.

Cremated Remains (Cremations): Cremations must be in an urn, may be temporary (plastic/metal/cardboard) container to prevent spillage in shipping. The cremains, along with the completed BAS package, and the burial flag will be forwarded to the Burial-at-Sea Coordinator at the desired port of embarkation (listed below). (For out of San Diego Area); Prior to shipment, it is recommended that a phone call be made informing the coordinator of the pending request. It is recommended that the packaged cremains be sent via certified mail, return receipt requested with completed BAS package, and the burial flag

Intact Remains (Casketed): Specific guidelines are required for the preparation of casketed remains to be buried at sea. Remains must be in a metal casket. All expenses incurred in this process are the responsibility of the PADD, who can send the remains with completed BAS package, and the burial flag to the San Diego Decedent Affairs at the below address. It is recommended that the family or funeral homes responsible for preparing and shipping intact remains, contact Navy Mortuary Affairs at the

Military Medical Support Office in Great Lakes, Illinois to receive the preparation requirements.

United States Navy Mortuary Affairs Burial At Sea Program

NOTE: Norfolk and San Diego are the only ports for embarkation of intact remains.

PORTS OF EMBARKATION / COORDINATORS

Norfolk, Va. Jacksonville, Fla.

Commander, Naval Medical Branch Medical Clinic Center P. O. Box 280148 ATTN: Code 0210C Naval Station 620 John Paul Jones Cir. Mayport, FL 32228-0148 Portsmouth, VA 23708-5100 Phone: (904) 270-4285 Phone: (757) 953-2617\2618

San Diego, Calif. Bremerton, Wash. Honolulu, Hi.

Naval Medical Center Commanding Officer Navy Liaison Unit Decedent Affairs Code: BUB Naval Hospital Bremerton Tripler Army Medical Center 34800 Bob Wilson Drive Code: 015-BAS/HP01 Boone Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000 San Diego, CA 92134-5000 Road Phone: (808) 433-4709, 577- Phone: (800) 290-7410 or Bremerton, WA 98312-1898 7590 (619) 532-8066 Phone: (360) 475-4790/4543 For More Assistance: If you have questions about our Burial-At-Sea program, please feel free to contact our office toll-free at 1-866-787-0081 and follow the voice menu.

BURIAL-AT-SEA REQUEST/AUTHORIZATION FORM

(please ensure items in bold are filled in)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is to certify that I: ______, am the person having the (Full Name of Requester) legal right to direct the disposition of the: Remains / Cremains of my: ______, (Relationship)

______, ______, ______, ______, ______. (Full Name of Deceased) (SSN) (Service) (Rank) (Status)

I respectfully submit my request for Burial-At-Sea and authorize the committal to sea of the

Remains / Cremains from a Naval Vessel.

The dates of military service were from: ______until: ______, as confirmed in the attached documentation.

Death occurred on: ______, in: ______. The cause of death is (Date) (City and State) listed on the death certificate.

If possible, I request the selected religious service be provided during the committal service:

Catholic / Protestant / Jewish / Other (Please Specify) ______

I understand, that it is my responsibility to pay all expenses for the remains, to include: preparation and casketing, or cremation and inurnment, plus delivery, to the selected port of embarkation. In the case of casketed remains, I understand I must engage a receiving funeral home in the area of the port, to prepare the casket for committal at sea.

AUTHORIZATION CERTIFICATION

______(Signature of Requester) (Signature of Witness)

______(Printed Name of Requester) (Printed Name of Witness)

______(Complete Address) (Complete Address)

______

______(Phone Number) (Phone Number)

APPLICATION AND PERMIT FOR DISPOSITION OF HUMAN REMAINS USE BLACK INK ONLY — MAKE NO ERASURES, WHITEOUTS, PHOTOCOPIES, OR OTHER ALTERATIONS 1A. NAME OF DECEDENT—FIRST 1B. MIDDLE 1C. LAST

2. SEX 3. DATE OF BIRTH (MONTH, DAY, YEAR) 4. DATE OF DEATH (MONTH, DAY, YEAR) 5. (FETAL DEATH ONLY) DATE OF EVENT (MONTH, DAY, YEAR)

6A. CITY OF DEATH 6B. COUNTY OF DEATH—IF OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, ENTER STATE

7A. NAME OF INFORMANT 7B. RELATIONSHIP TO DECEDENT 8A. TYPED NAME AND ADDRESS OF CALIFORNIA- 8B. CALIFORNIA LICENSE LICENSED FUNERAL DIRECTOR OR PERSON NUMBER—IF APPLICABLE ACTING AS SUCH—STREET NUMBER AND NAME, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE

7C. INFORMANT’S FULL MAILING ADDRESS—STREET NUMBER AND NAME, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF APPLICANT–I hereby acknowledge as applicant that I have the 9A. APPLICANT SIGNATURE 9B. DATE SIGNED right to control disposition pursuant to Health & Safety Code Section 7100, and that the disposition stated herein is one of the dispositions authorized by Health & Safety Code Section 103055. ► PERMIT AND AUTHORIZATION OF LOCAL REGISTRAR—ANY CHANGE IN DISPOSITION REQUIRES A NEW PERMIT TO SHOW FINAL DISPOSITION This permit is issued in accordance with provisions of the California Health and Safety Code and is the authority for the disposition specified in this permit. NOTE: This permit gives no right of disposal outside of California. 10A. AMOUNT OF FEE PAID 10B. DATE PERMIT ISSUED 10C. SIGNATURE OF LOCAL REGISTRAR ISSUING PERMIT $ ► 10D. ADDRESS OF REGISTRAR OF DISTRICT OF DEATH—IF DEATH OCCURRED IN CALIFORNIA 10E. ADDRESS OF REGISTRAR OF DISTRICT OF DISPOSITION—IF DIFFERENT FROM 10D

11. AUTHORIZED DISPOSITION(S)—CHECK APPLICABLE ITEMS FOR CORONER’S USE ONLY A. BURIAL OR SCATTERING IN A CEMETERY D. SCIENTIFIC USE I. DISPOSITION PENDING—LOCATION OF REMAINS— (INCLUDES ENTOMBMENT) E. TEMPORARY ENVAULTMENT NAME AND ADDRESS B. CREMATION F. DISINTERMENT C. DISPOSITION OF CREMATED REMAINS G. SHIP IN TO CALIFORNIA OTHER THAN IN A CEMETERY H. TRANSIT OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA

12A. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CALIFORNIA CEMETERY 12B. DATE BURIED 12C. INTERMENT NUMBER—IF APPLICABLE BURIAL OR SCATTERING IN A CEMETERY 12D. SIGNATURE OF PERSON IN CHARGE OF BURIAL OR SCATTERING (INCLUDES ENTOMBMENT) ►

13A. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CALIFORNIA CREMATORY 13B. DATE CREMATED 13C. CREMATION NUMBER—IF APPLICABLE

CREMATION 13D. SIGNATURE OF PERSON IN CHARGE OF CREMATION

► 14A. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CALIFORNIA FACILITY RECEIVING REMAINS 14B. DATE RECEIVED

SCIENTIFIC USE 14C. SIGNATURE OF PERSON IN CHARGE OF FACILITY

►

15A. NAME AND ADDRESS IN RECEIVING STATE OR COUNTRY WHERE REMAINS OR 15B. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON IN CHARGE OF PLACING WITH THE CARRIER CREMATED REMAINS ARE TO BE SHIPPED

TRANSIT 15C. SIGNATURE OF PERSON IN CHARGE OF PLACING WITH 15D. DATE SHIPPED THE CARRIER ►

16A. ADDRESS, NEAREST POINT ON SHORELINE, OR OTHER DESCRIPTION 16B. DATE OF DISPOSITION 16C. LICENSE NUMBER OF CREMATED SUFFICIENT TO IDENTIFY FINAL PLACE AND CALIFORNIA DISTRICT OF DISPOSITION; REMAINS DISPOSER—IF APPLICABLE SCATTERING/ IF BURIAL AT SEA, ONLY ENTER LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE BURIAL AT SEA OR DISPOSITION OTHER THAN IN A 16D. SIGNATURE OF PERSON IN CHARGE OF SCATTERING OR BURIAL CEMETERY ►

UPON AUTHORIZATION OF PERMIT, DISTRIBUTE COPIES AS FOLLOWS: COPY 1 – ACCOMPANIES REMAINS TO THE STATED PLACE OF DISPOSITION. PERSON IN CHARGE OF DISPOSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING AND FORWARDING THE PERMIT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF DISPOSITION TO THE REGISTRAR OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH DISPOSITION OCCURRED OR THE DISTRICT NEAREST THE POINT WHERE THE CREMATED REMAINS WERE SCATTERED AT SEA.* COPY 2 – RETAINED BY PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE CEMETERY, CREMATORY, FACILITY FOR SCIENTIFIC USE, OR BY THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF DISPOSING OF THE CREMATED REMAINS. COPY 3 – RETURN TO COUNTY OF DEATH WHEN THE REMAINS ARE DISPOSED OF IN ANOTHER DISTRICT. IF NOT APPLICABLE, COPY 3 MAY BE DISCARDED.* COPY 4 – RETAINED BY REGISTRAR ISSUING THE PERMIT.* * THE LOCAL REGISTRAR MAY DESTROY ANY ORIGINAL OR DUPLICATE PERMIT AFTER ONE YEAR FROM ISSUE DATE.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS VS 9 Rev. 01/01/2008

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COPY DISTRIBUTION

COPY 1 ACCOMPANIES THE REMAINS TO THE STATED PLACE OF DISPOSITION. THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF DISPOSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING AND FORWARDING THE PERMIT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF DISPOSITION TO THE REGISTRAR OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH DISPOSITION OCCURRED OR THE DISTRICT NEAREST THE POINT WHERE THE CREMATED REMAINS WERE SCATTERED AT SEA. THE LOCAL REGISTRAR MAY DESTROY ANY ORIGINAL OR DUPLICATE PERMIT AFTER ONE YEAR FROM ISSUE DATE.

COPY 2 RETAINED BY THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE CEMETERY, CREMATORY, FACILITY FOR SCIENTIFIC USE, OR BY THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF DISPOSING OF THE CREMATED REMAINS.

COPY 3 RETURNED TO THE COUNTY OF DEATH WHEN THE REMAINS ARE DISPOSED OF IN ANOTHER DISTRICT. IF NOT APPLICABLE, COPY 3 MAY BE DISCARDED. THE LOCAL REGISTRAR MAY DESTROY ANY ORIGINAL OR DUPLICATE PERMIT AFTER ONE YEAR FROM ISSUE DATE.

COPY 4 RETAINED BY THE REGISTRAR ISSUING THE PERMIT. THE LOCAL REGISTRAR MAY DESTROY ANY ORIGINAL OR DUPLICATE PERMIT AFTER ONE YEAR FROM ISSUE DATE.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING CREMATION

THE FOLLOWING STATUTORY PROVISIONS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE DISPOSITION OF CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS OTHER THAN IN A CEMETERY AND BURIAL AT SEA AFTER CREMATION AS PROVIDED IN HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 7054.6, 7054.7, 7116, 7117, AND 103060.

NO PERSON SHALL DISPOSE OF OR OFFER TO DISPOSE OF ANY CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS UNLESS REGISTERED AS A CREMATED REMAINS DISPOSER BY THE STATE CEMETERY BUREAU. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY PERSON, PARTNERSHIP, OR CORPORATION HOLDING A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY AS A CEMETERY, CREMATORY LICENSE, CEMETERY BROKER’S LICENSE, CEMETERY SALESPERSON’S LICENSE, OR FUNERAL DIRECTOR’S LICENSE, NOR SHALL THIS ARTICLE APPLY TO ANY PERSON HAVING THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THE DISPOSITION OF THE CREMATED REMAINS OF ANY PERSON OR THAT PERSON’S DESIGNEE IF THE PERSON DOES NOT DISPOSE OF OR OFFER TO DISPOSE OF MORE THAN 10 CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS WITHIN ANY CALENDAR YEAR. (BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTION 9740.)

CREMATED REMAINS MAY BE SCATTERED IN AREAS WHERE NO LOCAL PROHIBITION EXISTS, PROVIDED THAT THE CREMATED REMAINS ARE NOT DISTINGUISHABLE TO THE PUBLIC, ARE NOT IN A CONTAINER, AND THAT THE PERSON WHO HAS CONTROL OVER DISPOSITION OF THE CREMATED REMAINS HAS OBTAINED WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PROPERTY OWNER OR GOVERNING AGENCY TO SCATTER ON THE PROPERTY. A STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY MAY ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, REGULATION, OR POLICY, AS APPROPRIATE, AUTHORIZING, CONSISTENT WITH THIS SECTION, OR SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITING, THE SCATTERING OF CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS ON LANDS UNDER THE AGENCY’S JURISDICTION. THE SCATTERING OF THE CREMATED REMAINS OF MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN ONE LOCATION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL NOT CREATE A CEMETERY PURSUANT TO SECTION 7003 OR ANY OTHER PROVISON OF LAW. (HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 7116.)