Posted on Apr 7, 2014
Funeral detail/honor guard is more than a duty. It is truly an honor.
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I've been apart of funeral detail and honor guard since I joined the Army. A lot of people ask me why I volunteer to do this. Too often, I see soldiers in my ranks that run from formation, retreat and duties like funeral detail. Yes, even NCO's. I don't understand why. The lack of respect and discipline is beyond me. <div><br></div><div>The last funeral I did, I was getting ready to present the flag. "I present to you this flag on behalf of a grateful nation, the United States Army and The president , as a token of appreciation for your loved ones honorable and faithful service" then I stopped . After 1.5 years of funeral service, a tear came to my eye. This was the first time I would present the flag. The meaning of what I was doing hit me so hard. </div><div><br></div><div>When your on post, thinking you need to run inside to avoid revile and retreat, remember your fallen brothers and sisters. Remember countless tears shed by family members and loves ones, who have lost. As soldiers, as sailors, as marines and as airmen... If there is any duty that should be a priority... It's to ALWAYS honor our brothers and sisters in arms. </div><div><br></div><div>(More of a statement today. Wishing all of you a great week) </div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>
Posted in these groups: 
Honor Guard
Fallen Soldiers
Honor Guard Fallen Soldiers
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 15
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Can we stop calling it "funeral detail" and start calling it "Funeral honors"? Like you stated it is an honor and until we can stop calling it what it isn't (detail) and start calling it what is is (an honor) then many will shy away from it because they don't understand the true honor in the mission.
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SFC Craig Dalen
I have not been afforded this honor in quite some time. It was always a proud moment for me. My NCOIC at the time refused to call it or us detail during commands and I have always attempted to correct people that use that word ever since.
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SFC Christopher Perry
Wow, I really like that! And henceforth, for me and my team at least, it is no longer funeral detail. I have never shied from funeral honors no matter what they called it. When I am thanked by the family for being there, I always thank them for allowing me to be there. That is because I really do feel it is a privilege to honor my fallen brothers and sisters.
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SSG Loyd Gant
I agree wholeheartedly as i was ncoic in the 70'and 80' covering the SE portion of Ga and Fl it was always a tough honor to look the SM family in the eyes and present the Flag on behalf of grateful nation, it's amazing that SM's are to this day running away from the opportunity to present arms at the proper time, back in the day failure to do were grounds for actions under ucmj and being a nco in the vicinity and allow it to happen are/were subject to the same or worse punishment
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I absolutely agree. I was serving as a platoon leader when one of my Soldiers passed away and since the other platoon leader was senior it was going to be him to present the flag. He, however, did not think it as an honor and asked if he "had" to go. I said no and I was honored to present my Soldier's wife the flag. It was one of the hardest things I had to do in my career, but one of the biggest honors too. This honor though was a tough one and is up there with Casualty Notification and Casualty Assistance duty. They are rough, but I would do them all over again as I know that when I go my family will be treated with the same amount of respect.
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SGT (Join to see)
Wow, it's leaders like you that set the bar sir. I think that's why every soldier should do at least one. It's so touching and reaffirms the meaning behind our work. Thank you sir.
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SFC Christopher Perry
I have only done a few of these as the NCOIC, so that part is relatively new to me. I was on a full honor team for just over seven months the first time I was here at Fort Sill. They seemed to like our team and we kept getting extended.
When the Air Force team presented the flag to my grandfather this past year, I felt a sense of pride I cannot begin to describe. I immediately followed to pay my respects to them both and my boys followed behind me. There was a bit of back and forth in the moments leading up to the service as to whether I would be presenting the flag. In the end I can honestly say I am glad the AF took it. I know the emotion I feel presenting the flag to someone I met only moments beforehand, handing to my grandmother might have been pushing it.
When the Air Force team presented the flag to my grandfather this past year, I felt a sense of pride I cannot begin to describe. I immediately followed to pay my respects to them both and my boys followed behind me. There was a bit of back and forth in the moments leading up to the service as to whether I would be presenting the flag. In the end I can honestly say I am glad the AF took it. I know the emotion I feel presenting the flag to someone I met only moments beforehand, handing to my grandmother might have been pushing it.
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LTC (Join to see)
I am proud to say that my unit volunteered for a funeral for one of our fallen brothers who was killed in Afghanistan. He was originally with the unit before going active component. When I was contacted by my old battalion XO who is currently deployed and he told me that one of his former Soldiers (he used to command the same company as I do now) and asked if I could attend as a unit representative I felt that I needed to do more. After making numerous calls I was able to secure the funeral detail and begin to pull my team together. We are all honored to do this detail and we have and will rehearse again to make it flawless tomorrow out of respect for the fallen and the family.
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I have served as Funeral Honors NCOIC a number of times while stationed at Fort Knox, and it is a very humbling experience. The gratitude of the family and friends attending the funeral after performing the flag ceremony with respect and precision is a wonderful feeling. Unfortunately, in this age of the Millenials and their "what's in it for me?" and "do I have to and why?" attitudes, it is difficult for younger Soldiers, NCOs and Officers to see it as anything but a detail.
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Lyndsay - Thank you for sharing this story and for your dedicated service of volunteering in such an important detail. With the recent events that have shaped my family in the last month, this truly lifted my spirits. Your words said the families of the fallen, will ring in their hearts and minds for decades to come. Trust me...this means everything.
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SGT (Join to see)
Wow, I'm going to read it right now. Thank you for his service and yours. Can't wait to read it! God Bless
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It never gets old. I've been with the Honor Guard for over two years now and served at around 1800 Funeral Honors and each one of them I make sure to I've the utmost respect before, during, and after the service. I don't understand why soldiers (And marines, sailors, and airmen) shy away from helping out and affording the honor to those that came before or served with us.
I will say though that the hardest honors I do are those for our current generation. This past Tuesday I had the honor of being the detail leader for a veteran that served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Awarded the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, CIB, and other awards. When I presented the flag to the widow, I had a tear run down my face. Here was a young woman with a kid no older then 3-years old and she had to go through this. I was lucky to be able to compose myself until I got out of the area and had to take a minute before I let my other guy see me like that for the AAR. The older veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam never affect me like these younger vets.
And it's these moments that is the reason why I love doing what I'm doing. To be able to give back just a little bit of what they payed forward. I just hope with the way things are going now that I would one day be afforded the same level of care and respect that I've shown to all those that came before.
I will say though that the hardest honors I do are those for our current generation. This past Tuesday I had the honor of being the detail leader for a veteran that served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Awarded the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, CIB, and other awards. When I presented the flag to the widow, I had a tear run down my face. Here was a young woman with a kid no older then 3-years old and she had to go through this. I was lucky to be able to compose myself until I got out of the area and had to take a minute before I let my other guy see me like that for the AAR. The older veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam never affect me like these younger vets.
And it's these moments that is the reason why I love doing what I'm doing. To be able to give back just a little bit of what they payed forward. I just hope with the way things are going now that I would one day be afforded the same level of care and respect that I've shown to all those that came before.
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I've spent the better part of 2 decades training and performing with honor guard units around the world. Now that I'm retired from the AF ('05) I train honor guard units as part of my work- but it's not not because I love what I do.
Well written, SPC Monaco, and thank you for not only your service to our country, but your above-and-beyond service to our fallen brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
Semper ad Honorem (Always for Honor)
Well written, SPC Monaco, and thank you for not only your service to our country, but your above-and-beyond service to our fallen brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
Semper ad Honorem (Always for Honor)
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you for your service as well. I just really wanted to shed light on what a true honor it is. A little of our time, means the whole world to those families and fallen service members.
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TSgt John Marshall
So true. It's unfortunate that not all honor guard members have these same sentiments.
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TSgt David Carrasco
John,,, Thanks for the contact and above all "Thank You" for having served. As for returning to Lackland the answer is no. I see that we share common ground both in our military careers but also our continued support to our veterans and their loved ones. I will be in Austin during the first week in May and will see if she will take me to see Lackland. Have no clue if you live close by but if you do maybe we can meet.
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TSgt John Marshall
I live in Florida for now, i do train all across the country. I work with veteran groups when asked, but many vets already know everything and are averse to being trained by the new guy.
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I had never performed any type of funeral detail prior to the death of my stepfather, a USAF veteran, in 1994, and my mother wanted my brother and I to fold the flag and present it to her. I did pretty good reciting the lines until my brother broke down and I had to take a second to catch myself before I was able to finish and salute the flag. About 3 months later I was the NCOIC for a detail and it was a rough one for me, having to once again recite the lines so soon after my stepfather's funeral, but it was always an honor I took to heart and executed as professionally as I could.
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SGT (Join to see)
I'm so sorry for your loss SFC. It makes it that much harder when it's your own. It is posts like this,, that truly inspire me to put on the uniform. With so much negativity , it's incredible to see the love and respect we all share for our fallen. God Bless.
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Best and Worst Job I have ever done, Worst, Marking the Passing of a Shipmate. Best because you see the Esprit de Corps. I was the Flag Bearer at YN1 Shaws Funeral and the Whole 600 Man Ships Company that wasn't on duty turned out and His Honor Guard was the !st Class Mess. Pretty Impressive.
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That irritates the crap out of me. My Soldiers know better though that they stand at attention inside as well though so they are not just hiding!!!
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