For one week each month, my unit has a 9-soldier detail, including riflemen and a bugler, trained and ready to don their class ‘A’ uniforms complete with all awards, standing by to provide military honors to veterans who have passed away in our area. Sadly, each time we’ve pulled this detail (6 consecutive months), we’ve conducted funerals nearly every day of the week. I recently had the opportunity honor to participate in one of those ceremonies…
I stood in the almost green again grass, just off the edge of the narrow winding road, a few yards from a dark blue awning that provided shade for a dozen chairs, all facing a freshly dug rectangular hole in the earth. The sun was out, the birds singing.
Dressed in my Class ‘A’ uniform, complete with all awards and decorations, I found the slight breeze refreshing as I waited among hundreds of heroes from times past. Off to my right, some 20-yards distant stood a young soldier, also dressed in her Class ‘A’ uniform, a bugle held tightly by a white gloved hand, tucked into her right side as she seemed to stare into another world.
The silver colored hearse came to a stop just forward of and adjacent to the freshly dug grave. The Noncommissioned officer in charge of the detail stepped forward, turned to his right, facing the rear of the hearse and commanded, “PRESENT ARMS.” The six soldiers (pallbearers) standing in formation to his right executed a slow, solemn hand salute in unison, as did he, as did I. We held our silent salute for 3-seconds and then again in unison dropped our hands, standing rigid at the position of attention. The NCOIC methodically opened the doors of the hearse while the pallbearers moved into a position of two ranks, facing each other. The NCOIC proceeded to slide the flag draped casket from the hearse, slowly, step, by step. To a man, each soldier stepped to the casket, grasping the rails simultaneously in one smooth motion, moving methodically until the casket was clear of the hearse.
“FORWARD FACE” commanded the NCOIC and all six turned sharply, prepared to carry one of America’s heroes to his final resting place. I felt my heart pound as I stood at the position of attention, watching with reverence.
Step, stop. Step, stop. Step, stop. The pallbearers moved slowly, precisely until positioned over the grave while family members and friends watched, wiping away tears.
“CENTER FACE” came the command and all six turned, facing each other before easing the casket onto the pre-positioned supports.
“PRESENT ARMS.” All rendered honors with the hand salute.
“ORDER ARMS.” After the salute was dropped, all turned and quietly marched off to the distant, joining the bugler.
The Chaplain presided over the graveside services, speaking eloquently about the man, the soldier, the husband and father, the Korean War veteran, the grandfather, and the hero about to be laid to rest. As soon as the Chaplain finished, the 7-man firing party, without command, took up arms and rendered three volleys of a 21-gun salute. Immediately following the salute, the firing party presented arms and the bugler played taps. I stood solemnly, saluting the flag draped casket of a hero, my heart aching for the family’s pain while swelling with pride for his service to this nation.
After taps, the firing party stacked arms and six of them marched back to the casket, again taking up positions on either side.
“RETRIEVE COLORS.”
The flag snapped as all six stood upright. They then meticulously began the process of folding the flag into a tight, triangular shape ready for presenting to the family. The NCOIC saluted the flag before taking it from the folding party. He then turned to face me whereby I saluted the flag before receiving it in my arms. I then marched solemnly to where the family sat, turning sharply to the widow and stated, “Ma’am, I present this flag on behalf of a grateful nation as an expression of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by your husband, our sergeant major.”
After handing her the flag, I saluted, turned, and walked away with teary eyes, honored to have had such an opportunity.
Taps
Sgt Hook out.
Posted by Hook @ 2053 zulu | | Permalink
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