my first military funeral.

honda06si · 07-06-2007, 01:11 PM

well a friend of mine from my unit died last sunday in a non combat related accident. and his viewing is tonight, and his funeral will be held tomorrow.

this is the first time ive been able to do the honors at a military funeral, tonight i am pulling honor guard, which is pretty much just standing next to the casket during the wake. and tomorrow i will be the #4 gunner in the 21 gun salute.

he was also a firefighter so there is going to be an estimate of 1300 people there.

its very sad to see someone die.

but i am pretty excited about it because i think its an honor.

anyone on here been in one

notty · 07-06-2007, 01:16 PM

I was never in a funeral while I was still in the service. But right after I got out one of my good friends from high school who graduted from West Point was killed in Iraq. I went to his funeral at Arlington National Cemetary and it has to be the best ceremony/funeral I have ever been too. The military really does a great job at honoring those who have fallen. Not that funerals are a fun thing, but it was just nice to see how much tradition and pride is involved in the funeral!

dcfife · 07-06-2007, 03:06 PM

I've never been to a military funeral. I work right across the road from Arlington National Cemetary and I get excited when a flight of F-22's goes over...than I remember what the flyby is for and the excitement goes away very quickly.

praux · 07-06-2007, 05:51 PM

Yea, I went to one about 2 weeks ago. My cousin was killed by an IED in Afghanistan. He used to be in the same National Guard company as me. It was the nicest funeral I've ever been to, as far as funerals can go. First time I've ever seen the infantry guys in my unit cry.

FijiDeez · 07-06-2007, 08:13 PM

My brother was killed three weeks ago in a non-combat related accident. He was a Cav. Scout in the Army. Although it obviously sucks to say the least, the Honor Guard was something. At the funeral they stood watch during the calling hours and brought my brother in for the service as well as took him out to the hearse. The commital was the next day at Western Reserve National Cemetary. It was very moving to say the least. When they folded the flag and presented it to my mom I almost lost it. And then after they fired the first volley of the salute I did in fact lose it (partly because I didn't realize they were about to shoot.) On behalf of military families everywhere who have lost somebody, thank you for the service you provide (Honor Guard.) The amount of dignity and weight it brings to the service is truly amazing.

07-06-2007, 01:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
honda06si Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 11,151 justin iTrader: 6 / 100%	my first military funeral. well a friend of mine from my unit died last sunday in a non combat related accident. and his viewing is tonight, and his funeral will be held tomorrow. this is the first time ive been able to do the honors at a military funeral, tonight i am pulling honor guard, which is pretty much just standing next to the casket during the wake. and tomorrow i will be the #4 gunner in the 21 gun salute. he was also a firefighter so there is going to be an estimate of 1300 people there. its very sad to see someone die. but i am pretty excited about it because i think its an honor. anyone on here been in one

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07-06-2007, 01:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
notty Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 159 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I was never in a funeral while I was still in the service. But right after I got out one of my good friends from high school who graduted from West Point was killed in Iraq. I went to his funeral at Arlington National Cemetary and it has to be the best ceremony/funeral I have ever been too. The military really does a great job at honoring those who have fallen. Not that funerals are a fun thing, but it was just nice to see how much tradition and pride is involved in the funeral!

07-06-2007, 03:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
dcfife Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern VA Age: 38 Posts: 200 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I've never been to a military funeral. I work right across the road from Arlington National Cemetary and I get excited when a flight of F-22's goes over...than I remember what the flyby is for and the excitement goes away very quickly.

07-06-2007, 05:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
praux Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 23 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Yea, I went to one about 2 weeks ago. My cousin was killed by an IED in Afghanistan. He used to be in the same National Guard company as me. It was the nicest funeral I've ever been to, as far as funerals can go. First time I've ever seen the infantry guys in my unit cry.

07-06-2007, 08:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
FijiDeez Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Yompton, OH Age: 28 Posts: 5,463 Jason iTrader: 1 / 100%	My brother was killed three weeks ago in a non-combat related accident. He was a Cav. Scout in the Army. Although it obviously sucks to say the least, the Honor Guard was something. At the funeral they stood watch during the calling hours and brought my brother in for the service as well as took him out to the hearse. The commital was the next day at Western Reserve National Cemetary. It was very moving to say the least. When they folded the flag and presented it to my mom I almost lost it. And then after they fired the first volley of the salute I did in fact lose it (partly because I didn't realize they were about to shoot.) On behalf of military families everywhere who have lost somebody, thank you for the service you provide (Honor Guard.) The amount of dignity and weight it brings to the service is truly amazing.