Posted on 12/25/2015 1:37:09 AM PST by WhiskeyX
When a veteran or member of the armed forces dies, he or she is entitled to a ceremony that includes the presentation of a U.S. flag to a family member and a bugler blowing Taps. Most of the time, there is a three-volley rifle salute if requested by family members. But now, if the deceased served in the Air Force, the three-volley salute is not an option because the Air Force can no longer support riflemen for funeral services for veteran retirees.
[....]
“To me, without the 21-gun salute, it just does not make it complete a proper military burial,†veteran Wayne Wakeman told Honolulu’s KHON 2 News. “I think because of sequestration or the lack of funds or whatever excuse they’re giving, that they had to hit the veterans.â€
Wakeman is correct in supposing the cut is due to sequestration, the 2013 automatic federal spending cuts required by the Budget Control Act of 2011.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
PubliusMM wrote:
I’m betting that there are hundreds, even thousands, of military veterans who would be more than willing to answer this call to honor a fallen comrade.
When I see articles like this it amazes me how many folks don’t know about veteran service organizations and what they do.
If a vet belongs to a veteran service organization such as the American Legion, AMVETS, or the VFW and other gtoups there is no problem because most have an honor guard. Which is why vets should join one especially when they are getting on in years.
I have been to wakes where there was no one except a widow and a few friends then all of a sudden 21 guys show up in uniform and perform a service. You have no idea how good that makes the survivors feel.
I wonder if next Obama will replace the 21 gun salute with someone chanting a Muslim prayer?
Call on the JRROTC at your local high schools...
My step brother was laid to rest in Arlington in 65 and as coincidence would have it, our mutual friend and neighbor was part of the Marine color guard that day. It is burned in my memory.
My uncle with navy air service in the pacific in WW2 was laid to rest two years ago. The representatives used the recorded bugle message. When the lead NCO announced something about the President’s wishes, I thought my uncle would raise up and say not under this guy, I’ll wait.
But, there’s plenty of money for free Obamaphones.
This is what one gets with a liberal female as the Secretary of the USAF and the highest ranking officer of the USAF a female. As a former USAF Honor Guard member I think this is absolutely a disgrace.
Since it is Christmas, I will refrain from telling 0bama to go and reproduce asexually.
5.56mm
Yes, our Honor Guard too. 3 volleys, taps on the bugle, fold and present the flag, taps on the bugle, and we've done that on a moment's notice in some cases. Our chaplains will officiate if asked. We can even scare up a motorcycle escort if requested. Post, Auxiliary, Sons, and Riders, the American Legion family will step up. Dayum, it is a sacred honor to be a part of the final rites for a veteran. NO VETERAN should be laid to rest without FULL honors. SHAME ON THE AIR FORCE.
Now, about them pulling the Bible from the POW-MIA table at PAFB...
whoops, no echo taps, that was a typo. I will add that you do not need to be a Legionnaire to receive these honors. And if the family needs further assistance, there is a Service Officer ready to slice the red tape.
The wicked ways of the Clown in Chief All done by design!
The wicked ways of the Clown in Chief All done by design!
Recall the “closing” of free-standing memorials by this administration. Expect more of this BS in Obomba’s last year.
When we buried my Dad there was an honor guard that fired the three volleys. It seems to me they used M-1s. None were active duty military i.e. they were, technically, volunteers.
It also seems to me there was a line item cost for it in the bottom line. It wasn't much...the cost of bullets (I have one of the shell casings) and a stipend for the members of the honor guard. The point is, family members paid the entire cost of the honor guard.
The more difficult task, in the long run, may be buglers to blow taps. I only know this by anecdote but have heard many military units don't use buglers these days. Some events enhanced by such use recordings.
Is it only the USAF curtailing the salute?
As a Patriot Guard member, I think we could find personnel if allowed.
Most veteran funeral salutes I’ve been to I
It has been volunteers doing the 3 round salute, even at national cemeteries, regardless of branch.
We have a group here called the Associated Veterans of Kern County Honor Guard which is comprised of retired veterans who are all volunteers and do funerals.
It's another deliberate slap in the face of the veterans and families that they can't be rid of fast enough. Bastards, all of them- and that includes the feckless, spineless GOP-e who can't manage to keep funding the former military, the present military or the future military, but somehow manages to subsidize any-and-all flat-out freeloaders (foreign and domestic) on a lifetime basis, along with making sure Tom Donohue & the USCofC continues to have a well-funded and doubtless very Merry Christmas.
Mr. niteowl77
To all the FReepers on this thread... the Three Shot Volley should not be confused with the 21 Gun Salute. They are two very different things.
My dad passed away two years ago and since it was in the middle of the government “shutdown”, Keesler couldn’t do it; the American Legion did and they did a wonderful job.
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