MEMORIAL DAY IN A SMALL TOWN

[jimmyj]

My American Legion Post's Honor Guard conducted a Funeral Service this past Saturday for a Veteren. After the rifle volley the fired cases are recovered and placed in a small cloth bag and after Taps are presented to the Veteren's spouse along with the folded American Flag. As the Casket is escorted to the graveside the Veteren's Service song is played softy.

Sunday the Honor Guard posted Colors at the local Church.

Today was a Memorial Day Service at the Post. After the rifle volley and Taps there were no dry eyes at the Post.

 

[jeffrefrig]

My wife's Godfather got shrapneled up pretty bad on some hill in Korea. He ended up finishing his time in DC as an Honor Guard. Anyhow, at his funeral, maybe ten years ago, when they finished up the rifle volley and were folding up the flag, they put a spent shell in when they folded it up. The uniform in charge said something about the spent shell casing, I think, represented the soldier. The hall was all echo and I couldn't understand a word he said, plus the man was very old and had his troubles talking. I don't remember a bag of shells in a bag handed to Mary, his widow. Are military funerals different, depending on VFWs and or branch of service. He was Army. I've always wondered about this and never looked it up. This thread just reminded me to ask someone who knows. There is no spent shell in my dad's flag, but the local Legion or VFW gave the flag, and the pastor handed it to me. There was no official military funeral per Dad's wishes. He did his duty, came home, and never really talked about what he did in the Navy...besides rowing over to a nearby island and stole their still.

 

[jimmyj]

A number of years ago at my Wife's suggestion, as Honor Guard Captain I began recovering the fired cartriges cases and presenting them along with the Folded American Flag. Then to assist the surving spouse/next of kin to hold the Flag I started to insert the bag of cases inside the Flag. In this way the cases and Flag stayed together as a unit. As Honor Guard Captain My short speech " Mam/Sir on behave of the President of the United States, The Armed Forces of the United States, and the people of a grateful Nation , Please accept this American Flag of which Your Husband/Wife/ Relative so dedicated and courage served and defended. As long as this Country has Men/Women such as your Husband/Wife/Relative We will always be a land of the Brave and Free. On behalf of American Legion Post 58 thank you for allowing Us to be part of the ceremony for an American Hero. Per Military Protocol the ranking Officer present will act as Your escort. The survivor is escorted behind the casket/urn past a Guard of Honor at "Present Arms".
My Post has a box at the door for torn
fladed/unwanted Flags for disposal (burning). Often the Flags have cartridge cases in the Flag.

 

[STCM(SW)]

They gave me the folded flag and and three spent 30-06 shells at my wife's
ceremony in a plastic bag.
Today I saw her again. The cemetery was packed. I induced the other members of the family to come since I was the only one to see her final resting place in the last 10 months.

 

[raljr1]

My son did the Honor Guard service for a few years. I remember seeing the spent casings presented to family.