How the US Navy Says Goodbye at Sea

How does the U.S. Navy say its final goodbye at sea? Burial Documentary
In this documentary-style breakdown, we explore one of the Navy’s most sacred and precise traditions: the Burial at Sea Ceremony. Carried out aboard modern U.S. Navy warships—including destroyers, cruisers, and even aircraft carriers—this ritual honors sailors, veterans, and service members who make the ocean their final resting place.

A burial at sea is not routine. It is performed with discipline, ceremony, and exact protocol—from preparing the body, to dressing the sailor in Full Dress Blue uniform, to the folding of the U.S. flag, the ringing of the ship’s bell, and the final committal into the deep.

In this video, you’ll learn:
Why and when the U.S. Navy performs a burial at sea
How the ceremony is conducted aboard active Navy ships at sea
The role of the Chaplain, Honor Guard, Boatswain’s Mate, and Captain
How the ship prepares for the ceremony—including reducing speed and securing the flight deck
Details about burial shrouds, weighted caskets, and modern burial capsules
Why silence, discipline, and precision are central to naval tradition

How sailors honor their fallen shipmate before receiving the command to “carry on”

This video provides a respectful, educational look at one of the Navy’s oldest traditions—rooted in honor, service, and the bond between sailors at sea.