A Newport funeral director has become the first on the Isle of Wight to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging to ensure that veterans and their families have the opportunity to honour military service when saying their final goodbyes.
Life Funerals, an independent business which launched earlier this year, has made the commitment to help ensure that no veteran’s service goes unrecognised simply because loved ones were unaware of the options available to them.
The pledge means families will be supported in exploring ways to recognise a loved one’s military background, whether through traditional military honours or smaller, more personal tributes.
To mark the occasion, Alex, founder of Life Funerals, was joined by Troop Commander Captain Symmans and Clive Norman MBE, a veteran of the Parachute Regiment.
The gathering brought together serving and former members of the Armed Forces to recognise the significance of the commitment.
For Alex, who has a personal connection to the Armed Forces community, the pledge is about ensuring families have the knowledge and freedom to make arrangements that genuinely reflect the person they have lost.
Alex, Founder of Life Funerals, has said:
“We don’t believe there is a standard way to remember someone, and being a veteran doesn’t change that.
Article continues below this advertisement “For some people, serving their country is one of the proudest chapters of their life. For others, it’s just one part of a much bigger story.
“What matters is that families know what’s possible and feel supported in making the choices that are right for them.
“Bereavement is difficult enough without discovering afterwards that there was something meaningful you could have done, but simply didn’t know about.
“We never want a family to look back and think, ‘We wish we’d known we could have done that.’”
As part of its commitment, Life Funerals will also help bereaved families access information about military funeral arrangements and connect them with relevant Armed Forces organisations, charities and support services.
The company is encouraging veterans to record their wishes in advance through its free funeral wishes service, allowing loved ones to understand whether, and how, they would like their military service recognised.
Captain Symmans, Troop Commander, has said:
“It’s encouraging to see a local business recognising the importance of service and making a commitment to supporting Island Armed Forces communities, veterans and their families.
“Having someone who understands the significance of military traditions, while recognising that every individual and family is different, can make a real difference at an incredibly difficult time.”
The Armed Forces Covenant is a nationally recognised, government-backed pledge through which organisations demonstrate their commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families.
For Life Funerals, the latest announcement follows a distinctive entrance into the Isle of Wight’s funeral industry.
Since opening earlier this year, the Newport-based business has attracted attention with its bright yellow premises, transparent pricing and colourful biodegradable coffins, offering families alternatives to more traditional funeral arrangements.
The company says its approach is focused on giving people greater choice over how they remember loved ones, with the Armed Forces Covenant now forming another part of that commitment.
Those wishing to find out more about Life Funerals, its funeral wishes service or support for veterans and their families can visit www.lifefunerals.co.uk or call 01983 243243.
