Coast Guard Feature Story/Handout: Honoring Those Who Served

Honoring those who served
Story and photos by Seaman Sabrina Elgammal
First District Public Affairs

White gloves stained red from folding the American flag in the rain, uniforms drenched as

The MFH team trains on the second Friday
of every month, to ensure their movements
stay sharp and their routines stay consistent.

they stand like statues, two members of a Coast Guard funeral honors team await the arrival of the hearse. Nothing could stop this team from performing up to their admirable standards, not even the stormy weather.

The Coast Guard Integrated Support Command Military Funeral Honors Team has been paying honors at military funerals for the past eight years in the Boston area. They are 26 members strong and made up of all different ranks and rates from units in Boston.

"The whole service is about honoring the veteran that passed away and giving back to them, for what they did for their country," said Petty Officer 3^rd Class, Michael Anastasi, a member of the ISC MFH team.

Petty Officer 2nd Class James Maduro and
Coast Guard Auxilarist John Collins carefully
remove the flag from the casket at the end of
the service and fold it in a triangular
fashion before presenting it to the next of kin.
Each funeral service requires two members and, if available, a bugler. As pall bearers remove the casket from the back of the hearse, the team members salute a flag that is draped over the casket; the flag is placed so that the fallen veteran's heart is beneath the stars. The MFH team carefully removes this same flag from the casket at the end of the service and folds it in a triangular fashion before presenting it to the next of kin. It is not placed in the grave and is not allowed to touch the ground. This custom originated from the Napoleonic Wars (1796-1815).

"It takes all you have to kneel down and pass off the flag to the next of kin, because you not only feel the pain they are experiencing, but you can see the respect and honor they have for you and what you are doing for their family." said Petty Officer 1^st Class Kori Heath, coordinator of the MFH for the Boston area.

Before the flag is folded and presented to the family,"Taps" is played, which signifies the passing of a member, and "rest in peace." The bugle call was composed in 1862 during the American Civil War by Union Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield and was played at each night to indicate "lights out."

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kathryn Pietras
is practicing carefully folding the flag
into the symbolic tri-cornered shape.
This custom began during the
Napoleonic Wars (1796-1815).

ISC Boston is one of the few MFH teams lucky enough to have a bugler, instead of only taped music, who participates in many military funeral services. Bugler John Collins, the director of the Buglers Across America Association, is also a Coast Guard Auxiliarist.

"It is the most 24 sacred notes you can ever play," said Collins. "The hardest part is not to look at the family while playing it, because this is the time they all start to break down, and realize they really did lose a family member."

The team trains on the second Friday of every month, to ensure their movements stay sharp and their routines stay consistent.

"We face all sorts of challenges both during practice and at actual ceremonies," said Collins. "Each funeral is different from the next, and the only thing you can do is adapt and overcome."

Though each member is obligated to be ready to attend a funeral at a moments notice, it sometimes creates conflict with other Coast Guard duties.

"I have commands coming to me all the time asking for a schedule on when their member will be at these ceremonies, but there is no set schedule on people passing away," said Heath.

In 2007 there were 377 military funeral services in ISC's area of responsibility, and the ISC's team conducted about 75 percent of them. The team also participates in community parades and Coast Guard retirements.

"To pay respect to the veteran and the family one last time is a huge honor," said Heath. "The Coast Guard is a tight-knit family and we are always there for one another through thick and thin."

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