Honor guard preserves history, professionalism

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon Johnston
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Marching in perfect formation, performing drill with extreme precision, and demonstrating unwavering professionalism are the traits of the honor guard. But the underlying importance and purpose of the honor guard is to preserve the traditions and history of the U.S. Air Force.

Performing at military functions, the honor guard is responsible for bearing the colors, performing gun salutes and, at funerals, escorting and carrying the remains of a service member. These traditions date back to May 1948 - not even a year after the Air Force was formed. Continuing the proud history is a selling point for some, as is the case with one Team Mildenhall Honor Guard member.

"I joined the honor guard because I like the professional image that they instill and the thought of representing the Air Force when giving honors to past and present military members," said Senior Airman Marco Misko, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management journeyman and RAF Mildenhall, England, Honor Guard member.

Sometimes the honor guard needs to travel a little further than normal to perform their duties.

"With the privilege of joining the honor guard you get to travel around quite a bit," said Airman 1st Class Stephen Beasley, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Heavy Equipment journeyman and RAF Mildenhall Honor Guard member. "I have been as south as brighten beach to as north as Peterborough. We also cover as far out as Ireland."

One of the main honor guard ceremonies performed are military funerals. Since 2000, all veterans are entitled to military funeral honors, and many veterans choose to have this done. It is an emotional, but important ceremony. It offers the family and friends of the departed, as well as the departed themselves, one final honor.

"My favorite part of being in the honor guard is doing funerals," Misko said. "If funeral honors are requested, we will provide those honors while representing the U.S. Air Force as these ceremonies are congressionally mandated. When we get to go to funerals, it is an emotional time for the families, and you can tell by the look on their faces how much our attendance and military honors means to them."

Not all honor guard events are somber, however. Honor guard members offer their services for parades, promotion ceremonies, weddings and change of commands, to name a few. Showing respect for service members of the past and present is the goal of the honor guard, no matter the venue.

"Being a part of the honor guard is important because we are there to represent all members, past and present, of the Air Force, and we do this through funerals, parades, retirements, change of commands, and other ceremonies," Misko said.

An integral part of keeping military history alive, Team Mildenhall Honor Guard members perform dozens of ceremonies a year. To keep their skills sharp and focused, they practice every week for two hours, and once a month for a full duty day. This dedication ensures that every facing movement, every salute, and every flag fold is as crisp and precise as ever, so the traditions are honored to the highest degree.