Fewer airmen available for retiree funerals

[unhappycamper]

Ceremonial guardsmen from the Air Force Honor Guard practice the newly implemented seven-person retiree funeral sequence, which replaces the usual 10-person ceremony.


Fewer airmen available for retiree funerals
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 5, 2007 7:10:34 EST

High operational tempo and a smaller force are changing another Air Force tradition — how the service participates in retiree funerals.

Funerals of retired airmen will now be covered by a seven-person detail, instead of the usual 10, according to Tech. Sgt. Charles Forrest, noncommissioned officer in charge of standards and evaluations for the Air Force Honor Guard in Washington, D.C.

The changes took effect Nov. 1.

The other main difference: Three airmen — not seven — will fire three rifle volleys each.

Honor guards will continue to act as pallbearers, fold the flag, present the flag to the retiree’s family and perform “Taps.”

The new policy does not change how funerals are conducted for active-duty airmen or veterans who did not retire from the service. The funerals of active-duty airmen will continue to have 20-member honor guards while veterans’ services will include at least two service reps.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_funerals_071105w/



uhc comment: When my mother passed away in 2005, the Navy sent two reps and a tape recorded "Taps".