Scott AFB Honor Guard Renders Final Honors At Funerals
(January 30, 2011) |
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| SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (Jan. 27, 2011) - While the notes of "Taps" are
heard at many bases daily signifying the end of the day, it
is also played during military funerals. |
The concept
of military funerals began during the Napoleonic Wars when
the dead were carried from the battlefield covered by a
flag.
Military funeral honors are now mandated by
the law at the request of an eligible veteran's family.
The Scott AFB Honor Guard is responsible for ensuring
that these finals honors are given properly across a
six-state region around Scott.
"It is our duty to
present the last honors to a fellow airman who has passed
away," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Wise, Scott Honor Guard acting
superintendent. "We also have the duty of showing our
respect to the family members of the fallen service member."
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Members of the 375th Air Mobility Wing Honor Guard firing party salute during a funeral procession, Jan. 21,
2011 at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Mo. The Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Honor Guard performs numerous details for veterans at this cemetery as well as covering funerals throughout a four state region. Airmen of all ranks and units are assigned to the Honor Guard for four months at a time. UASF
photo by Staff Sgt. Brian J. Valencia |
| The honor guard's presence at these funerals also serves
an ambassadorial role as well. |
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"Many of the funerals
we serve in are in locations without a military presence.
Our being there allows the members of that community to see
and potentially meet service members face to face," said
Wise. "This is one of the many reasons why we're extra
careful to always maintain our military bearing."
Members eligible for a military funeral include, members on
active duty or in the Selected Reserve; former military
members who served on active duty and left under conditions
other than dishonorable; former military members who
completed at least one term of enlistment or period of
initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and
departed under conditions other than dishonorable; and
former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve
due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of
duty.
The Honor Guard divides the funerals they
serve into three categories.
The first category is
the smallest type of funeral detail the Honor Guard fills
and is for honorably discharged veterans. For these types,
the Honor Guard sends a two-man detail who fold and present
the flag to the family.
Funerals for retirees who
have served 20 years or more constitute the second category.
This type of funeral consists of carrying the casket,
folding and presenting the flag, three volley salute and a
bugle player. Six to seven member teams are sent to these
funerals, three of whom are part of the three volley salute.
Funerals for active duty members are the last and
largest type of funeral that the Scott Honor Guard serves. A
team of at least 20 is sent in support of this category of
these funerals.
The active duty funeral is similar
to those for retirees. In addition to those same tasks, a
colors team is sent to present the colors and seven members
are on weapons detail instead of just three. An NCO in
charge of the entire Honor Guard detail is also sent to the
ceremony.
"It's an honor knowing that we're the
final representative a family will see from the military for
their fallen family member," said Senior Airman Tristin
English, Scott Honor Guard member.
Traditions
The Origin of Taps
Up
until the Civil War, Lights Out, a song borrowed from the
French, was played to indicate the end of the duty day. In
July 1862, after the Seven Days Battles with 600 men
wounded, Union Gen. Daniel Adams Butterfield called on
Oliver Wilcox Norton, the brigade bugler, to write a new
piece because he felt Lights Out was too formal, but he
still wanted to honor his men. Butterfield showed him the
back of an envelope with notes and asked him to play. After
several tries and changes to the notes on the envelope,
Norton played, what is now called Taps. Neighboring brigades
began asking for the music and playing Taps as well. In
1874, Taps was officially recognized by the U.S. Army. In
1891, Taps became standard for military funerals.
Rifle Volleys
The
practice of firing three volley salutes over the grave comes
from an old custom of halting the fight to remove the dead
from the battlefield. Once each side cleared its dead, they
would fire three volleys to indicate that the dead had been
cared for and they were ready to go back to the fight.
Contrary to popular belief, this is not a 21-gun salute. |
By Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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