GUARDING TRADITION: Patriotism, respect mark the days of Honor Guard year-round

Published July 6, 2009
By Howdy Stout
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Sometimes the survivors speak with their eyes.

In a tradition-filled ceremony, the Honor Guard maintains their military bearing, rarely -- if ever -- focusing their gaze on anyone. But when the flag draping the casket is presented to a family member with the solemn words "on behalf of a grateful nation...," it is then that their eyes meet.

Sometimes the eyes of the family show pain and sadness. Often, the eyes show pride and gratitude. Always, they say more than words.

"I've been to funerals where you get emotionally involved," said Staff Sgt. German Ortiz, assistant NCO in charge and one of the permanent members of Tinker's Honor Guard. "You see their tears. It touches you. Sometimes, when I come back I say, 'Yea, when I presented the flag, I was in tears.'"
Honoring the dead is a time-honored military tradition and one that the Air Force takes seriously. It is one of the most visible, and evocative of all military ceremonies. It also keeps Tinker's largely volunteer Honor Guard busy.

Last year, Tinker's Honor Guard conducted 433 funerals, said Senior Airman Willie Hart, office administrator and one of only four permanent members of Tinker's guard. "We're going to double that this year," he said.

With three flights of 22 members each, Tinker's Honor Guard provides services for active, retired and veteran funerals throughout most of Oklahoma, covering 43 of the state's 77 counties. That area includes the Oklahoma City metro area, Tulsa and remote Fort Gibson National Cemetery in eastern Oklahoma. "Thirty-nine thousand square miles," Airman Hart says.

That doesn't include providing color guard duties for functions, change of command ceremonies and retirements. "Our mission doesn't stop," says Airman Hart.

"We've had up to seven funerals in one day," explains Tech. Sgt. Kristen Gasaway, NCO in charge of the Tinker Honor Guard. "There have been times we've had to call in our standby flight for the sole purpose of filling multiple funeral honors details."

Honor Guard members are selected from participating units on base. With a 12-month commitment, they serve two weeks on, two weeks off and two weeks on standby. There are three active flights with one flight in reserve for support, back up and fill-in purposes.

Unit members sometimes double-up on assignments, serving as honor guard members at several ceremonies a day. Not a funeral is missed due to other commitments. Not only is it a Congressional mandate, it is a point of honor.

"That's our primary mission, the military funeral," Sergeant Ortiz says. "The sole reason we exist is to provide ceremonial duties to fallen comrades. We will never cancel. We will make it happen."

To help handle the demand, Staff Sgt. Lawrence Bach organizes training for new Honor Guard members. A ceremony may require as little as two members or as many as a full flight of 22. In any event, members are taught every aspect of every ceremony.

"It takes a lot of patience," explains Sergeant Bach. "Now you learn all the aspects of each detail."

Initially a volunteer with the Honor Guard, Sergeant Bach said he was dissatisfied with the brief, five-day training program given to new members. "I wanted to do more," he explained. And he wanted to make sure his particular training experience wasn't repeated.

"I made it through three days and on the fourth day I was out on details," he said.

As head of Honor Guard training, Sergeant Bach says he stresses problem solving and the use of common sense. Although the Air Force has a standardized manual on how to perform each ceremony, Sergeant Bach says each situation is different.

"I like to use the motto 'adapt and overcome' because there's always something to work around," he says.

"We have an intense, 10-day class of drill training and protocol," Sergeant Ortiz says. "It's like a stress test."

Whether in training or in practice, says Sergeant Ortiz, maintaining military bearing is imperative.

"When you're out there you're going to have a lot of people watching," he says. "But it's doable. We tell them, 'No matter what, you're going to give them 100 percent. They deserve it.'"

Maintaining military bearing isn't always easy. Especially when a stray dog attempts to relieve himself on a guard member or when a funeral director advises a team member of the possibility of being fired upon because "this cemetery is on private hunting land."

"That happens," Sergeant Ortiz laughs. "But we train so much, we know what to do."

And they do it well.

Sergeant Bach said honor guards from sister services have praised the drill of Tinker's team. "That's probably the most rewarding feeling I've had since I've been in the Air Force," he said.

Normally a computer programmer, Sergeant Bach says he would like to remain a permanent member of Tinker's Honor Guard. So, too, does Airman Hart. "I never get tired of it," Airman Hart says.

"Where else can you do what we do?" says Sergeant Ortiz. "It's not for everyone. It's really tough duty. But if you truly want to be in the honor guard, all you need is heart."

Each of the members has similar reasons for joining the Honor Guard, namely a sense of respect for tradition and honoring those who served.

"It's a great program that the Air Force offers," says Sergeant Gasaway. "And I think everyone deserves it regardless of whether they served one day or 33 years."

"What we're doing matters," Sergeant Ortiz says. "It will change your perspective on why we do this and even why we serve...It definitely touches you."