Funeral Detail - 30 April 2005

Last one - this rotation

Published on May 3, 2005 By chiprj In Blogging

I had my last funeral of this rotation on Saturday. It was another two man detail and was for a Coast Guard veteran. On Friday I called the local Coast Guard unit and got in touch with the Petty Officer that would present the flag. He told me that he had been a member of the national honor guard in Washington D.C. and had done a number of funerals before. I told him I'd be at the chapel at 1330 on Saturday and I'd have the bugle and white gloves.

On Saturday, I got to the chapel on time despite having defective directions from Yahoo's driving directions. I guess you could say the directions were good and I was defective, but I like it the other way around better. The Petty Officer was already there. I met him and some of the church members. When the minister saw my name tag, she asked if it was really my name. I laughed and said yes. Turns out it was her maiden name. I didn't think to ask if she had any family in the Ohio/West Virginia area.

The minister explained that the family asked to have the flag presentation done in the middle of the service, rather than at the end. We told her that was no problem. We told her that we'd stand in the back of the church during the service but that I'd move right outside the doors to play Taps because the bugle is pretty loud even on the lowest volume setting.

The Petty Officer and I waited outside while the family and friends went into the church. We talked for a bit. He'd been in the Coast Guard for about eight years and was a Bosun's Mate, Second Class.

At the start of the service, the Petty Officer and I moved into the church. We waited through the service. The minister spoke about the deceased for a bit. When she finished she asked everyone to stand for the presentation of the military honors. The Petty Officer moved to the flag and saluted. I moved right outside the door and started the bugle. When Taps was complete, he presented the flag and saluted again. I entered the church and from the back, I mirrored his salute when he presented the flag and then moved back out.

I packed the gloves and bugle away and we walked back out to the parking lot and left.

My Ecosystem Details

Comments

Jason

on Nov 21, 2005

Well thats pretty interesting should have asked his name I might have known him the CG is a very small branch.
If I didnt know him Im sure I know someone who does.

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