Airmen volunteer to honor fallen heroes

  • Published
  • By Eric M. White
  • 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio --  The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base honor guard performed military honors at more than 3700 funeral services in 2013. To help cover the many requests, they reach out to volunteer honor guards from Air Force Reserve and National Guard bases. The week of Aug. 25, instructors from Wright-Patterson conducted an honor guard training course here. Twelve honor guard members completed the course including eight from the 910th Airlift Wing here, three from the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield and one from the 445th at Wright-Patterson.

Tech. Sgt. Ronald Marshall is the non-commissioned officer in charge of Honor Guard operations and handles the day-to-day business for Wright-Patterson AFB. Marshall was one of the course instructors.

"Well, the base honor guard, our primary mission is military funeral honors," said Marshall. "So we pay respects to active duty, retired, and veterans around our AOR."

The five-day course concluded on Friday, Aug. 29 with a simulated retiree funeral training demonstration. Base members attended as observers, and Col. Kevin Riley, 910th Mission Support Group commander, attended with his wife, representing the parents of the deceased for training purposes.

"Well, the retiree service is a 7-man service for anybody who served over twenty years of honorable service," said Marshall. "Again, the keyword is honorable. Or any guardsman or reservist who is not on active orders. Basically what happens is we have a six-man team who will pall bear the casket to a final resting place, we'll do a six-man flag pull, then everybody will march off to a secondary duty. Some people will go to firing parties, some will play the bugle, then some will present the flag to the next of kin."

The 910th Airlift Wing base honor guard is comprised solely of volunteers. They take assignments, as able, to give honors at funerals, present the colors at ceremonies or other events, conduct retirement ceremonies and occasionally, assist with dignified arrivals for fellow Service members killed overseas.

Senior Airman Keila Calderon, who works in Knowledge Operations Management for the 910th Communications Squadron, is an honor guard volunteer and participated in the training course.

"To honor the fallen, the veterans, the retirees, whomever, it actually touches a little bit more than, it's more than just a certificate," said Calderon. "I think it's dedication, commitment, time, because time is crucial for this. You have to actually kind of volunteer your time for this. But I think it really touches a little more than just my heart. I really enjoy it."

So far in fiscal year 2014, the 910th honor guard has maintained a busy schedule, participating in 733 funerals, 39 presentations of colors, four retirement ceremonies, and one dignified arrival.

"I would definitely encourage all Airmen to join the honor guard," said Calderon, "because it's rewarding afterwards."