Pallbearer question

[growr]

I have played TAPS for nearly 5000 veterans and have noticed that none of the pallbearers are female.

Anyone ever see a female pallbearer at a service?

Wonder why that is anyway................

Randy

 

[arjay]

Carrying a casket is quite awkward.They are heavy

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Growr - Many thanks for providing those Vets with a proper send off.
You have most certainly been involved with more funerals than I have!
If you haven’t seen any Female Pallbearers, there probably aren’t any!

 

[Rustyt1953]

I have seen a few and they were all tall women.

 

[Old TexMex]

That struck me as interesting, so I looked, and here’s a link to a picture. One woman is wearing high heels.(the blond)
The Daily Undertaker, The Variety and Importance of Ritual

 

[max]

Thank you for providing the service and I have seen several female pall bearers. I remember one funeral that was all female.

 

[Faulkner]

Not very often are women called upon to be pall bearers. I can only think of one I was at personally, it was at the funeral of a tenured deputy sheriff in a neighboring county. All of the pall bearers were uniformed LEO's and one was another deputy he had trained at one point.

 

[NYlakesider]

I have seen them as pallbearer, but at least when my father was in the funeral director business it was not too common.

No disrespect intended but in many/most cases they are smaller and weaker than the males.

 

[llowry61]

Interesting question. I have never seen one and I've never even thought about it. Thank you for being part of the final send off for those who sacrificed on our behalf.

 

[Eski]

I have seen a few female pallbearers. My great uncle’s funeral comes to mind where the pallbearers were his grandchildren, four of them female.

 

[kscharlie]

My Dad, a WWII Navy veteran, passed away 4 years ago. His request was for his grandsons to be pallbearers, but there were only 5. He further requested that pallbearer number 6 be his eldest granddaughter. The military Honor Guard at his grave site did an awesome job. They cannot be thanked enough.

 

[walkin jack]

In my 3/4 of a century I've been to my share of funerals. Most were routine and I've been a pallbearer several times. Some were unusual in one way or another but this thread is the first time I've ever heard of a female pallbearer. or even thought about it for that matter. I see no reason why a woman couldn't be a pallbearer. Even in the case of a military funeral as long as she was a vet or serving member of some branch of the military.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When we buried my grandmother, my grandfather requested that it be the six grand sons. One of my male cousins was so sick and weak he wouldn't have been able except we put my brother and I on each end so we could bear his burden. (He passes 3 months later.) Then when my grandfather died there were only 5 grandsons left. So 3 of the 5 granddaughters volunteered. 4 of the 5 were half Japanese , so the only full Caucasian was big enough to assist her male cousins. There was no gloating, there was no shame, there was only family! as one unit, as it should be!

Ivan

 

[Rustyt1953]

The running joke in my extended family is if Ruthie (4'10") is ever a pall bearer, put her in the middle.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Won't be a problem with me. One or two people to put the box from the
Neptune Society in the spot at the Veteran's Mayoral Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA.
Last chance to have a hot body! -

 

[Wrangler Rich]

A set of twins for their Grandfather last year was the first time that I have seen it.
The husband of one of them joined our Honor Guard for his Military Honors.

WR

 

[spricks]

My Father was a decorated Army Veteran from World War 2. My niece is a Army Vet from her tour in Iraq....she wore her uniform and was pallbearer along side to me for my dad.

spricks

 

[pawngal]

When my Mother passed away, 2 of her granddaughters were pallbearers.
I have seen a few others too.

 

[jimmyj]

My American Legion Post #58 has two female Honor Guard members who serve as pallbearers

 

[Golddollar]

When my paternal grandmother died, the idea was somebody descended from each of her seven children was to be a pallbearer. As my dad's youngest sister only had girls, her oldest daughter was assumed to be a pallbearer but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

 

[shouldazagged]

Growr, I salute you for your service to veterans and their families.

I've seen a few female pallbearers over the years. I won't have any. I'll be cremated. One man or woman with a small shopping bag or a large purse can handle it.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Growr, I salute you for your service to veterans and their families.

I've seen a few female pallbearers over the years. I won't have any. I'll be cremated. One man or woman with a small shopping bag or a large purse can handle it.

Ruthie is going to collect me in a Dust Buster.

 

[LoadedRound]

Served as pallbearer along with 2 of my female cousins Friday. We put them in the middle.

 

[BigBoy99]

My neighbor, a retried veteran with a great sense of humor, requested he be cremated and that some of his ashes be placed in a planter at the local mall. He said, that way he knew his wife would be coming to visit him! When he did pass away, his wife actually put some of his ashes in the mall planter.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

In one picture of Stalin's funeral, the casket is being carried by his Politburo stooges. There are 7 on each side. In one picture from Brezhnev's funeral, the old geezers who were his cronies are pretending to carry it, the real heavy lifting is done by some sturdy Red Army men.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have played TAPS for nearly 5000 veterans and have noticed that none of the pallbearers are female.

Anyone ever see a female pallbearer at a service?

Wonder why that is anyway................

Randy

Thank you for providing your playing. Do you use a bugle or a trumpet?

 

[Muss Muggins]

I can’t comment on this as I don’t go to funerals. After all, the deceased ain’t going to mine . . .

 

[growr]

horn

Thank you for providing your playing. Do you use a bugle or a trumpet?

I have used all of them from time to time, however my go to horn is a 1904 mfg Conn 1892 Regulation Bugle that just sounds fabulous graveside. I found it in a pawn shop for $20.00 with the original mouthpiece still attached with the chain.

The Legion Honor Guard Unit here in Billings has since dubbed it "The Old Timer".

I asked them why they called it that...the reply was " It has character and attitude, sorta like US!"

It does have that..............

Randy

 

[straightshooter1]

Miss Muggins, I think I saw that comment on another thread it piqued my interest then. Now I see it again and I gotta ask-why not?

I realize the deceased won't be offended as he or she has stepped off into eternity. But I've always thought the funeral wasn't for the deceased, rather it was to offer comfort and love to the friends and family.

To stay on topic, yes, I've seen a few and heard of more females serving as pallbearers.

We were recently at a graveside service for a friend at Bay Pines Veterans Cemetery and saw at least two members of the Honors Team were female vets. That was the first time I'd seen females performing that service.

Bob

 

[Muss Muggins]

Miss Muggins, I think I saw that comment on another thread it piqued my interest then. Now I see it again and I gotta ask-why no

My oldest son died at age eight after a four year battle with leukemia. I quickly grew tired of the “he’s in a better place” and “God needed another angel” platitudes. A: His place was with me. 2: God didn’t ask me for a reference.

People die. Get over it. Way too much money gets spent dealing with the aftermath . . .