Thanks John. In between the badness of the funerals we have a few occasions to the post the colors and were still waiting on being asked to help in a wedding. Won't be a Commanders wedding!

This past summer we posted the colors at a Mariners game on Firefighter Appreciation Night...that was pretty cool. Plus we got free tickets to watch the game!

Since I've "been there, done that", kudos to you and your boys.

While I was doing AF Honor Guard, I never felt that it was a hard thing to do. It always felt like more of an honor that I was able to be part of the team paying last respects to a person who gave most of their life to the U.*. Military.

I am sure that for the surviving Familys, you guys are of great comfort. And a reminder that the departed lived a life of service to others. Whether in the Military, or in a Civilian Service dedicated to Safety and Saving Lives.

X2!
I participated in 29 funerals from NY, MA, ME, CT, and RI.

2 things will hit home. Crack of the first round will send most of the attending into tears. To me, the first note of Taps almost always does it in for me.

Any of you guys ever "fall" in. 1st time it happened, I went all the way in, but I still had my hand on the casket.

'Amazing Grace' or 'Going Home' on the Bagpipes is what gets me. I can't help but not shed a tear

We call a 'Fall', "Piper in the hole"....long story on that, but we did have to help a bag piper out of a freshly dug grave. So far.....none of my team has gone down. It'* our biggest fear! We've decided that if that happens and you are not hurt, wait out the ceremony and will get you out after wards. That in and of itself is motivation to not take the plunge.

"will get you out afterwards" ?? Screw that, I'm bringing my entrenching tool if I'm ever on your team.

Piper in the hole. DAM!!!! I know this is about Honor, and dignity. But I am having a hard time even typing in between the chuckle spasms here. That would be about the worse and most embarrassing thing! OMG. The solemnness, the Ceremony and respect, and to have a member fall in??? I agree Kevin. "You fall in, and don't you dare stand up. Just stay down and hang your head low"

I never fell in, but I've seen my guys get REALLY close. Whenever I've done Military funerals, I've always been what we call NFP(NCOIC of Firing Party). I'm pretty much the guy that called the commands for the firing party, to make sure we got those 9 or 21 shots right.

I was an E-4 at the time, I commanded our last 2 funerals because our NCOIC had to stay in the rear with the gear. THAT was a blast!

I'm an E4 as well. NFP or NPB can be done by anybody. Not just a "real" NCO.