WASHINGTON — The U.S. flag that covered the casket of Robert TeWinkle, an Army veteran, rests on his widow's bedroom dresser, where she can see it every day.

"It was given to me as an honor for him," said his widow, Marjorie TeWinkle of Sheboygan, Wis.

The triangular-folded flag is a daily reminder of her husband of 55 years and the military honors a grateful nation bestowed on him at his August funeral.

Robert TeWinkle, who served from 1951-53, was buried with honors that included the ceremonial flag-folding and presentation, rifle volley and taps played on a bugle.

"It was all inspiring. But to me, I think the flag (was the most meaningful) — that's from our country," she said.

Marjorie TeWinkle said that more than anything, it is the flag that still pulls at her emotionally.

"There were tears then. Even just thinking about it now brings a few tears," she said in early November. "It struck home then what was really going on. Before that, you are just kind of in a daze, but all of a sudden you realize that this is all for real."

Whether military service was long ago in the frozen forest of central Europe or two years ago in a stateside post, all veterans are entitled to funeral honors. But they are not automatic; survivors must request them through local funeral directors.

"Every veteran, just like serving military, is entitled to military honors, as long as they are honorably discharged," said James Olson, a spokesman for the National Funeral Home Directors Association.

Under a 1999 law, the Defense Department is required to provide military honors to all eligible veterans at their funerals at no charge to the families — no matter whether the funeral is in a national, state or private cemetery.

Veterans are eligible as long as they have been discharged as "other than dishonorable." A copy of the veteran's separation document, such as the Department of Defense Form 214, is the only paperwork needed.

The law requires the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag to the next of kin and the playing of taps by a live bugler, if available, or through a recording. The military also provides at least two uniformed members of the armed forces to carry out the honors.

Veterans' organizations also may help the military in providing the funeral honors, and thousands of their members volunteer every year to do so.

But the flag presentation and taps are just the required minimum of military honors.

Other honors also may be available, including a rifle firing party and an honor guard.

The honors could come from local active-duty and reserve military commanders, if resources are available; state National Guard units; or local chapters or posts of veterans groups, such at the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and AMVETS.

Marjorie TeWinkle said about a dozen VFW members provided the military honors at her husband's gravesite in the Gibbsville, Wis., cemetery.

"It was just nice that he was honored that way for serving his two years in the service of his country," she said. "It was just very impressive."

Beryl Love, national programs director for AMVETS, said providing military honors is a major effort of the veterans' organization.

For example, AMVETS had more than 20,000 volunteers spend about 85,000 hours performing military honors from July 2006 to June 2007, Love said.

Nine states — California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin — also have state-sponsored military funeral honors programs.

Olson, a director for Lippert-Olson Funeral Home in Sheboygan, which arranged Robert TeWinkle's funeral, said military honors are becoming more frequent at funerals as World War II and Korean War veterans die.

"It's the things that families remember most about the funeral service," Olson said. "It is a huge honor and it's something everybody who has come to the service can participate in."

The Veterans Affairs Department estimates that nearly 686,000 veterans will die this year and annual veterans' deaths will remain above 650,000 for at least the next five years.

The military performed honors at more than 157,000 funerals last year and expects to exceed that number this year, Ward said.

Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com.