Last to lay you down

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shannon Hall
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Hand-picked to serve as a member of the Dyess Honor Guard, my standards of conduct and level of professionalism must be above reproach; for I represent all others in my service.

This line is just one of many that honor guard members must memorize and put into action while serving as ceremonial guardsmen.

The Dyess Honor Guard program is made up of Airmen from different squadrons around the base, leaving their jobs for three months to concentrate on military honors for deceased service members. Dyess covers approximately 34,000 square miles, 38 counties, performs more than 200 funerals a month, and members also spend two weeks assisting the honor guard at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, in Fort Worth, Texas.

"Members learn basic honor guard standing manuals, veteran funeral sequence, retiree funeral sequence and basic color guard," said Staff Sgt. Brandon Hutchinson, 7th Bomb Wing Honor Guard noncommissioned officer in charge.

Training can last two to three weeks depending on how quickly the new flight learns and performs, according to honor guard standards. For some, these weeks can be tiring and stressful, but a little hard work can go a long way, Hutchinson said.

"The training was very difficult and I had a lot of questions at first," said Senior Airman William Waitman, 7th Bomb Wing Honor Guard member. "However, it gave me confidence, and helped me grow as an Airman."

Honor guard members are required to memorize and abide by a "charge" that instills in them everything it takes to be a ceremonial guardsman. This is one of many things that must be accomplished within their first week of training. The charge lets Airmen know what is expected of them, and what they live by for those three months.

"Our number one mission is to pay respects to those who have served and their families," Hutchinson said. "The first thing I always instill in my Airmen is to exceed at a higher standard."

They spend almost every single day of the week traveling to funerals, and when not on the road they are back at their home station practicing and training to perfect every movement.

"When performing something of such high importance there is no room for error," said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fetchik, 7th Bomb Wing Honor Guard training instructor. "Therefore, there is not much time for rest."

During these funerals the team members pallbearer the casket, perform a flag fold, a three-man gun salute, play taps and then present the flag and three shell casings to the next-of-kin. The Airmen are the last to lay down fallen service members and honor them, as well as their family.

"It's a very rewarding feeling," Waitman said. "They were our family as well and this experience is more than anything I expected. It's my way of being able to say, 'thank you'."

For any questions about honor guard or funerals, contact them at (325) 696-5532.