The passing of a loved ones brings many small details that will need attending. One such situation is getting all mourners from the funerary service location to the place where the body will be interred. Certain protocols are in place to assist with this, including the use of specially designed funeral flags.
When mourners travel as a group from one site to another, it is called a burial procession. In some areas this ritual is carried out on foot as the bereaved wall through the streets carrying the deceased's casket or urn, though it is more common in modern times for the parade to be comprised of vehicles. The body is transported in a hearse which leads the line.
As the person of honor, the deceased is carried in the hearse that leads the group. The limousine, or whatever vehicle is being used to transport their spouse, significant other, parents or children will take up second position in the line. They are followed by other family members and the rest of the guests in their own automobiles.
Though many times funerary processions are granted a police escort to ensure the group travels uninterrupted, additional methods may also be used. Banners, normally supplied by the Home handling the arrangements, are a traditional way to identify those included in the group. There are several different styles available.
Sometimes, wide ribbons are stretched across the hood of each car, identifying the passengers as in mourning. More commonly used are banners flown from flexible plastic rods attached to an automobile's door window. These may also be found with a magnetic base designed to firmly adhere to the metal or vinyl outside of the vehicle.
Generally speaking, these products are about twelve inches high and use staffs that are flexible to bend, rather than break when stressed. The banners attached to them are usually 6" x 9" and starched for easy viewing. They come in multiple colors, including purple, orange and white, and feature a contrasted cross in the center.
