Funeral Detail - 12 March 2005 (First Funeral)

We had two full honors funerals for retired Navy service members on Saturday. I went to base at 0930 to pick up the van and get our rifles. A friend of mine wanted to come along and watch a detail. He knows that sooner or later he'll have to be on the detail, probably as the overall NCOIC since he made the list for SFC this year, so he wanted to at least see one with no pressure of being involved. He met me at the van and helped get the rifles and ammunition, along with my firing team leader.

We met the rest of our team at 1030 and left for the cemetery. It was the same one we went to earlier in the week out in Seaside, so it was a short drive to get there. On the way, I asked them about how the funeral the day before went. While we have multiple NCO's to oversee these funerals, we currently only have about one teams worth of firers trained and ready to go. So, after working at the funeral with me on Wednesday, they had another on Friday before the two on Saturday. I'm very proud of this group and how they take each funeral seriously and understand how unique they each must be.

When we got to the cemetery, I met with the Petty Officer from the Navy Detachment that would be presenting the flag. We like to have the flag presented by a member of the same service as the deceased if possible. The Petty Officer had been to a funeral before, so I didn't have to work through much with him. He said he'd follow my lead on everything and we briefly discussed how I'd pass the flag to him.

I then placed the bugler and the firing team. We had initially been told that the family wanted to use thier own pall bearers, so we had focused on practicing the firing and the flag folding. When the vehicle arrived, the funeral director told me that the widow changed her mind and wanted the military to serve as pall bearers. I told her no problem and went to alert the team. This was my firing team leaders first funeral, so he was nervous about giving the commands, since he hadn't really practiced them. I told him not to worry. The team was well trained and he was the only new one. I told him that if he forgot any of the commands to just use "Ready, Move" and follow the team. They'd get him through it. Sometimes a leader has to realize that his personnel are better trained or able to do a task. You have to let them do their thing and let them make you look good. The important thing is to never forget that they made you look good and let credit be reflected that way.

He got through it with no noticeable problems. There was a short prayer and the priest talked for a bit. The widow and her family kept their composure very well up to this point. The priest motioned the Petty Officer and myself forward. We moved up and saluted. Everything was silent for the metallic sliding and clicks of the rifles as the team prepared to fire. The first volley caused the widow to break down. By the end of the third volley, she was sobbing loudly and I could feel the emotions building up in me. After Taps sounded, I managed to get control of myself.

After the problem with the flag on Wednesday, I set up a signal for the people at my end of the flag to let the folders know which type of flag we had. That way we'd hopefully not have to unfold and refold the flag again. Well, I didn't recognize the tag on the flag, but since it wasn't a Goodwill flag, we didn't give the signal to leave the three inch lip out of the fold. Well, that was a mistake. We had the same problem with not having enough material left over to tuck the flag correctly. So, they had to unfold it again. This time, I don't know what they did wrong, but they left the lip out and still came out short. They had to fold it a third time to get it right. By this time, all the emotion from the volley was gone and I'm sure my face was red with frustration. I couldn't believe the flag was that hard to get right. Finally, they passed it forward and I received it from the firing team leader. He put the three spent rounds inside. I then passed the flag off to the Petty Officer and saluted it. He marched to the widow and presented the flag. We then marched off to the side together and waited for the ceremony to end.

After the ceremony, the priest came and thanked me for coming out. He asked about the "damn flag" (I thought it was hilarious that he said that). I explained about the different flags and that I'd never seen the type they had out there before that day. He laughed a little and told me he'd make sure the widow knew that we just wanted to flag to be perfect for her. The Petty Officer got the case for the flag from the van and went to give it to the widow. I had the team load their rifles into the van and asked them what the deal was with the flag. I told them that from now on, we'd leave the lip out. If we got halfway through folding and thought we'd have extra material, it would be easier to fold it loosely the rest of the way to deal with the extra material than to try to fold it more tightly if we thought we'd end up short.

We then got into the van and left to go to our second funeral.

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What is the significance of the 3 spent shells? My father-in-law was buried on Tuesday. He was a veteran that was in the Battle of the Bulge. I have seen the flag presentation ceremony before but it never included the 3 spent shells until this ceremony. I googled it and was delivered here. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

Laura Foland

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I think they represent the three volleys of rifle fire - one shell for each volley. Beyond that, I don't know if there is any more significance.

I'd also like to add that I am sorry for your loss.

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JillUser

Join Date 11/2003

+17

Military funerals are very emotional. There are two things that always get to me at funerals, bagpipes and the flag presentation. Our friend who died in Feb had both. The Airforce presented the flag to her daughter. It was very hard to watch but very appreciated by all.

Thanks to you and all soldiers who have done such duty. It reallys does mean a lot.

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