Honor Guard pays tribute to war heroes every day

  • Published
  • By 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  May 30 is Memorial Day for most Americans. For Air Force honor guard units, every day is Memorial Day.

The main mission of the Homestead Air Reserve Base Honor Guard is to provide funeral honors for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. In fact, the Homestead ARB Honor Guard performed at 200 military funerals in 2007.

Like all Air Force honor guards, the Honor Guard covers a large area. Its area of responsibility covers nearly all of South Florida - from West Palm Beach in the north to Monroe County in the south. Honor guard members work weekends, drive hours through traffic and stand ceremoniously at attention during funeral services. However, Honor Guard members will be the first to tell you their sacrifices are nothing compared to those whom they pay tribute.

"I meet heroes all the time," said Master Sgt. Francisco Navarro, the Honor Guard superintendent. "I meet the veteran's who have passed away through the stories their family and friends tell.

"Every time I go to a Veteran detail, I get a tour of the lives of the greatest generation. Every military funeral I attend humbles me," Sergeant Navarro said. "We owe these veterans something, so it's important to make sure the ceremony is perfect."

Sergeant Navarro explained how special it is when they receive photos and excerpts from the individual's life who is being celebrated to help understand who they were.

"We always arrive at least an hour before the ceremony, and I see and listen to family members and picture what their loved one looked like when they were in the military," he said. "It's like a trip back in time."

When the ceremony commences, it is a solemn tribute.

An Air Force bugler stands 50 paces from a flag-draped casket. Two Airmen stand at attention at opposite ends of the fallen hero in a display of honor.

As the funeral director finishes reading the eulogy, the bugler plays Taps to signal the end of the duty day for the resting veteran. The first note of Taps is the cue for the two Airmen flanking the casket to slowly raise their right hand until they touch the bill of their hats, in a final salute to the veteran. After the bugler plays the last note of Taps, the Airmen begin the ceremonial flag folding. An Airman kneels in front of the deceased veteran's next of kin, presents the American flag, and remarks, "On behalf of the president of the United States and a grateful nation, our country's flag is presented as a token of appreciation for many years of faithful and honorable service," Sergeant Navarro explained.

Service in the Honor Guard means no one funeral is more important than another.

"One of the most important funerals we performed was that of a homeless World War II veteran with no family. Even the funeral director said 'hey guys, you really don't have to stay for this, Sergeant Navarro said.

"We stayed because we represented his military family. The Honor Guard represents integrity - doing the right thing when nobody's looking," he said.