|
For Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Graham, Keesler Air Force Base Honor Guard Delta
Flight NCO in charge, honor guard, a year-long contract, was not what he
expected it to be.
“When I joined honor guard I didn’t know a lot about it,” said Graham. “I just
saw the face of the Air Force Honor Guard; them doing shows, performing and
twirling rifles. Now that I’ve gotten into it, it means a lot more.”
Each Keesler Honor Guard member goes through several months of training to be
proficient in posting the colors, flag folding, firing party and pallbearer
skills but despite their training to have a stoic persona, precise facing
movements and meticulous uniform, they face difficulties as well.
|
October 26, 2017 - Keesler Air Force Base Honor Guard members
practice flag folding procedures before a funeral ceremony at the
Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi. Every month the
Keesler Honor Guard participates in a monthly funeral ceremony at
the Biloxi National Cemetery to honor the unaccompanied remains of
military members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Suzanna Plotnikov)
|
Arriving to his first funeral at a dark, cloudy rain-filled New Orleans cemetery
Graham had to focus on keeping his military bearing to present the proper
funeral military honors for a grieving family.
“It was raining several days prior to the funeral so the cemetery was run down,
the tombstones were folded over and weeds were growing everywhere,” said Graham.
“There was two inches of muddy water throughout all the gravesites so it gave it
a really disturbing look. The whole group was trying to get our bearing to
figure out each honor guardsman’s position.”
The final handing off of the flag to the next of kin can be one of the most
remembered parts of a military funeral. Like some parts of life, not every
situation goes to plan and for Graham, handing the flag to the mourning family
at his first funeral was no exception.
“The family showed up to the funeral 30 minutes early so we had to improvise,”
said Graham. “There were tons of people in a small area so it gave me a
claustrophobic feeling. There was nowhere for the family to sit so I had to hand
the flag to someone who was standing up instead of the norm of them sitting
down.”
Looking into the eyes of someone you don’t know and handing them the U.S. flag
may bring a sense of sadness to anyone but according to Graham, this last moment
of each military funeral reinvigorates each honor guardsman to perform better at
each funeral.
“They’re crying and they’re thankful; you’re kind of healing their sadness a
little bit,” Graham said. “It’s something I’ve been very appreciative of and I
think that’s what reignites the fire into most of the honor guard teams whenever
they’re handing off that flag.”
Graham wouldn’t have had a chance to experience the sense of pride and
patriotism that comes with performing honor guard duties if it weren’t for his
superiors. After speaking to his mentor, a prior chief master sergeant, Graham
realized he was going to be a part of something much bigger than himself and
possibly the last time some families have contact with the military.
“Most people who aren’t affiliated with military don’t really know what to
expect from military members and this might be the first and last time they see
a military member,” said Graham. “They can see how passionate we are and it
instills some sense of pride in America and gives them hope that there are
people who are still willing to do what needs to be done . . . even as an honor
guardsman.”
By U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Suzanna Plotnikov
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
Comment on this article |
