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Guard your Honor

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jessica Montano | Guardsmen of Minot Air Force Base Honor Guard lower the flag during practice on March...... read more read more

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, NORTH DAKOTA, UNITED STATES

03.10.2016

Story by Airman 1st Class Jessica Montano

Minot Air Force Base

At a windy Thursday morning practice, three Airmen from Minot Air Force Base Honor Guard stand at parade rest waiting for a command of execution. On the given cues, the Airmen snap to attention, march forward and perform a left wheel turn towards the flag pole. In step, the Airmen climb the three steps to the base of the flag pole and wait for their next order from the commander of troops.

The Honor Guard has the core mission of performing military funeral honors for veterans and retirees of the Air Force.

“Whether you serve two years, four years or 40 years, and you want to be buried here in North Dakota, we’re going to provide military funeral honors for you,” said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Hull, Minot AFB Honor Guard program manager, who added that they perform 40-60 funerals per year, reaching across 80 percent of North Dakota.

During a military funeral, the ensign is folded using the traditional 13-fold method and given to the next of kin for the dedication and service of their family member.

“Flag folding is my favorite part of Honor Guard,” said Airman 1st Class Alessio Johnson, a cyber surety journeyman assigned to the 5th Communications Squadron. “The flag represents the person that has passed away, so it is important for us to make it look the best we can.”

As secondary missions, the Honor Guard presents the colors at various events on base and throughout the community. Including, Change of command ceremonies, retirement home visits and several Minot State University events as just a few of the details Honor Guard does.

“We attend the North Dakota State Fair every year,” said Hull. “There are 280 entries, I mean, it’s the biggest thing in North Dakota and our Honor Guard, well we’re at the front. It’s really neat to be the first position, but also to see that everyone is sitting down, old, young, people of all different ages, but when you’re marching by they start to stand up. At that time, all you can hear is the clicking of the shoes of the Honor Guard and the weapons manuals, but in those moments of silence, you can hear parents and grandparents tell their children or grandchildren, ‘you have to place your hand over your heart’. Also, you can hear people recite the pledge of allegiance, or sing the national anthem and they start to clap. That is a very memorable job, and the impact we have on the community is what I’ll most take away from those experiences.”

Minot Air Force Base Honor Guard is an all-volunteer unit, as they are not required to meet a quota for certain Airmen.

“The Airmen are here because they want to be here,” said Hull. “They know the impact and they want to better themselves. They know it is a mission where they get to do something bigger than themselves.”

For their service in the Honor Guard, Airmen receive free monthly haircuts from the base barber shop, free ceremonial uniforms, free bowling and free pizza from Rough Riders.

Hull also said that as members of base Honor Guard, Airmen uphold the core values, build a strong network between career fields and gain a deeper respect for military tradition.

“An Airman from the maintenance squadron could come here and leave being best friends with a food service specialist from the dining facility,” said Hull.

The three Airmen prepare to lower the flag as the commander of troops yells “sound retreat”. As they wait at parade rest, the Airmen are ordered to attention when the music would begin to play. As the flag is lowered by two Airmen, the NCO in charge executes present arms for the duration of the song. As the flag nears the ground, the NCO in charge performs order arms and secures the flag before it touches the ground. Once controlled, the flag is unhooked from the halyard and the two Airmen center themselves in preparation for a two-man flag fold. The Airmen fold the flag, march to the commander of troops and stop to present the flag. The NCO in charge declares the flag has been secured and the detail is finished.