Tinker to hold Honor Guard appreciation Published Oct. 2, 2008 By Danielle Gregory Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- They are at every Tinker event, impressing attendees with their precise, crisp movements. The Tinker Honor Guard emphasizes the importance of military customs, courtesies, dress, appearance, drill and ceremonies. On Oct. 30, the Team Tinker First Sergeant's Council will host a Tinker Air Force Base Honor Guard Appreciation Ceremony in the Tinker Club Ballroom at 4 p.m. The free event is open to all. "Our members travel hundreds of miles every day to provide military honors to our fallen comrades. They exemplify the Air Force core value 'Service before self' by dedicating not only the weekdays but nights and weekends away from their families to complete the Honor Guard mission." Tech. Sgt. Kristen Gasaway, NCOIC, Tinker Honor Guard. "The team members are excited about the appreciation ceremony and we want to thank the first sergeant council for putting this together for us." Base honor guards began in May 1948 when the Air Force directed the creation of an elite ceremonial unit comparable to those of the other services. The first base honor guard was activated within the 1100th Air Police Squadron, Bolling Field, Washington D.C., and was responsible for maintaining an AF ceremonial capability in the National Capitol Region. Sergeant Gasaway said the primary mission of the base honor guard program is to employ, equip and train Air Force members to provide professional military funeral honors for active duty, retired members and veterans of the military. The Base Honor Guard Program is a mandatory Air Force program and is the responsibility of the installation commander. Members are usually volunteers from the installation host and tenant units, with selections generally coming from the installation's airman basic to technical sergeant pool.