|
May 31, 2012 -- The importance of being precise, sharp and
disciplined is instilled in every Marine during their days of
recruit training. These qualities exemplify the ideals and
traditions passed down through generations of Marines.
|
Marines with the honor detail aboard Marine Corps Air Station
Miramar, Calif., receive commands from Lance Cpl. Joseph W. Earls, a
senior with the honor detail and a Mount Juliet, Tenn., native, May
30, 2012. The senior must be able to think quickly in order to
accommodate for unique situations during funeral ceremonies for
veteran Marines. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Michelle Piehl
|
|
For the Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters
Squadron honor detail, aboard Marine Corps Air Station
Miramar, Calif., putting on their dress blues to lay a
comrade to rest is equivalent to the highest standards of
dress and professionalism.
The group of Marines meets
on a weekly basis for an hour-long practice. In addition to
weekly practice, the honor detail often performs several
ceremonies each week for fallen Marines.
“The mission
is to provide military honors to any Marine who has served
honorably or died in action,” said Cpl. Kelvin D. Almazan,
an honor detail senior and a Modesto, Calif., native. “A lot
of times we will get requests for retirees and veterans of
Vietnam and WWII. We serve Marines whose next of kin lives
in this area.”
Pride, honor and discipline reign as the fundamentals of their
actions for members of the detail.
|
“I teach my Marines in the detail that this may be the
last image the family has of Marines,” said Sgt. Arquimedes
B. Madrigal, the honor detail senior non-commissioned
officer in charge and a Fallbrook, Calif., native. “The
Marine may have been in two years or out twenty years. All
the family knows is that they had the Marine Corps in their
past and they are proud of it.”
In order to
accommodate as many funerals as possible while maintaining
squadron obligations, MCAS Miramar splits the honor detail
into two teams.
“This is so the Marines can schedule around their annual
training, leave and time with their families,” said Madrigal. “Also,
that the Marines aren't away from their jobs. Sometimes we do have a
lot of funerals, a couple of times a week, or even on the weekend.”
Each team consists of seven riflemen, one bugler and a senior to
call commands.
Tasked with the responsibility to lead his
fellow Marines, the senior must be ready to overcome unique
situations that require quick thinking. The senior must be logical
and disciplined in order to efficiently lead while maintaining a
professional standard during the ceremony.
“He can't turn
around and say to his Marines: ‘Hey look, this is what we are going
to do now,'” said Madrigal. “Sometimes different situations come up
and you have to think on the fly and be quick.”
Madrigal
takes his Marines through different scenarios, such as: odd
obstacles, an unplanned cremation urn and misplacement of the
American flag upon the casket. This spontaneous training ensures the
team is prepared in any situation. In the case of a misplaced flag,
the flag folders must adapt in order to present a properly folded
flag.
The honor of folding and presenting the American flag
to the next of kin is reserved for the staff non-commissioned
officer in charge, senior and junior, the three most experienced
members of the detail.
“We have to make sure it's perfect,”
said Almazan. “We don't want to give them a bad flag. That's going
to be something they look at the rest of their life. That is what is
going to be on their mantle, representing their loved one.”
After the flag has been dutifully prepared, the senior passes the
flag off to the SNCOIC, or presenter. The presenter will insert
three rounds into the flag, symbolizing the three-volleys fired.
“It goes back to the Civil War era,” said Almazan. “They would fire
three shots at the end of the night after they had collected all of
their [casualties] to signify that the fight was still on.”
Almazan, currently a senior with the honor detail, became interested
in this unique service opportunity as a way to give back to the
Marine Corps.
“It is for the families,” said Almazan. “It's
so the family knows we are always going to honor our Marines and
take care of them, even after they have passed. Everything has to be
perfect for them, so that their lasting impression of the Marine
Corps is this.”
The precision in timing and coordination among
the detail is essential to sending the fallen Marine off in the most
dignified ceremony as possible. Each member of the detail must
undergo a thorough inspection prior to the ceremony, as well as
sharpening skills as a team during hours of rehearsal.
“We
take pride in what we do,” said Madrigal. “We know this might be the
last image they have of the Marine Corps. We want to leave the
family with a good image.”
After hours and hours of hard work
and diligent rehearsal, the prestigious honor of laying a fellow
comrade to rest is a humbling experience.
“A lot of these
Marines want to do this because it gets them back in the Marine
Corps perspective,” said Madrigal. “They go through their daily
lives, daily jobs, doing the same thing day in and day out. This way
they get to come out, hold a weapon and be in their dress blues.
It's rewarding once they see the families. The families really
appreciate the service they provide.”
Regardless of
circumstance, preparing for the funeral of a loved one can be a
challenging and painful experience. Honor detail Marines display
courageous efforts in honoring the fallen and committing to always
stand faithful to their brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
By USMC Lance Cpl. Michelle Piehl
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
Comment on this article |
