The "WOW" Factor
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 1:03PM | Share Article 
I was recently watching a line-of-duty funeral being broadcast live on the internet. The church held several thousand people and by the time the services began was full, standing room only. The only empty seats were the ones reserved for the immediate family, who would follow the casket in, and the agency, who would march in after the casket and family procession.
As the casket and family procession entered the church everyone stood. I know it’s a show of respect and often marks the beginning of a religious service, but there have been times when I was part of the team planning the entrance procession and there was no discussion about the audience standing or being seated. The procession and audience involvement was traditional or part of a religious rite or just a past practice. I often offered my opinion of a different role for the audience.
The role of the audience during the entrance procession is often never discussed because the procedure is considered traditional or part of a religious service.
I know there are few absolutes in planning a police funeral. The role of the audience during the entrance procession is often never discussed because the procedure is considered traditional or part of a religious service. What I often offered was, “Food for Thought.” 
In a church the size of this funeral, the number of people attending, especially in uniform, was impressive, if not awe inspiring. When the family followed the casket into the church and down the aisle and everyone was standing, all the family could see were the people standing next to the aisle as they passed by. It was like being in a tunnel. The family really couldn’t visualize the enormity of the event. They couldn’t recognize the diverse number of agencies present. They couldn’t appreciate what an awe inspiring event this was. And because of the manner that they would enter and leave the church they would likely never really know or comprehend what a sight it was to behold. They wouldn’t realize the “WOW” factor.
I would have suggested that the master of ceremonies have everyone sit down as the casket and the family processed in.
John CooleyThis is my reasoning:
I don’t think it’s disrespectful for the audience to sit as the casket escort procession, the immediate family and agency, enter and are seated, for two reasons. First, I want the family and agency members to see and realize the enormity of the funeral. I want them to see all the officers present. I want them to realize not only how many are there but why they are there, to give significance to the deceased officer’s life and career.
Secondly, I want the officers in the audience to see the flag draped casket and family members and agency members enter the church. When everyone is standing and the casket and family and agency members enter, the majority of those standing can’t see anything but the backs of the heads of those in front of them. They dutifully stand there until the processional is concluded and haven’t seen anything. I want them to participate in the procession by seeing what is happening and those that are involved.
I want them to watch the flag draped casket being escorted into the church. This has significant meaning to everyone in attendance. I want them to watch the agency members march in and be seated because they all know that it could be them. They should see it happening. I want them to see the immediate family, not just the backs of their heads after they are seated. This is an important aspect of the service also, for these officers from other agencies to actually see the wife, children and parents they have only read or heard about. I want to personalize the funeral and this is one important step to make that happen.
I have talked to various clergy members about having the audience seated during the entrance procession, even if it’s traditionally part of their religious service. They said they had never been asked that question before and after hearing my reasoning for it said it was not a problem, only a slight modification to the service ritual that could be easily accommodated. Some said it was not part of the religious service but just a tradition or past practice and could easily be implemented, especially if in an auditorium.
Funeral coordinators need to evaluate every aspect of the funeral. The entrance procession may need to be looked at from a different perspective, one that meets the needs of the surviving family and the officers in attendance. Does the traditional processional entrance need to be modified? If so, can it be? If you have a legitimate reason to do it, then try to do it. If you can, then do it. If you can’t, that’s okay, because you evaluated your options and make an informed decision.
There are few absolutes. If the service is held in a church or auditorium that has tiered seating and when everyone stands they can see the entrance procession, then there is no need for them to sit. But again, some churches have a sloped seating area, not tiered, and it is not sufficient to allow people standing to see the procession. So they still need to sit.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask why the processional is being done a certain way if it doesn’t meet your needs. Ask if it can be modified. You may learn that “Well, it’s always been done this way…” and “Yes, it can be modified…” Don’t hesitate to offer an alternative plan, along with your reasoning for it. Don’t forget the audience who will likely be expecting to stand for the processional. Insure the master of ceremonies announces not only what will be done but why it is being done. 
A simple modification for the processional can have a significant affect on everyone in attendance, the surviving family, agency members, and the officers in attendance. I want the surviving family and everyone else in attendance to appreciate what is taking place.
A simple thing like having people sit during the processional entrance and permitting the family to see the audience, actually see them, can make a significant difference. Having the attendees actually watch the casket and family being escorted into the church and placed and seated has significant meaning. As a coordinator I want to try to insure the meaning is not lost in the crowd. I want the family to walk in and say “WOW.”
John Cooley
Policefunerals.com
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