Photo By Tech. Sgt. Rasheen A. Douglas | ALI BASE, Iraq - Senior Airman Luis Reyes and Staff Sgt. Waichung Liu, honor guard...... read more read more
By Master Sgt. Andrew Gates
407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq - Saturday evenings at Ali, a flight of Airmen stand in the center of the Air Force compound, at attention, the afternoon wind whipping the desert colored uniforms and the more colorful stars and stripes of the American flag at the top of a flagpole.
As one, four other Airmen step in from the left and slowly march to the flagpole and untie the lanyard. As the flight behind them salute, the team slowly lowers the flag, folds it carefully, reports that the flag is secure and then slowly marches off.
Although retreat is a common sight at many Air Force installations, at a southeast Asia base like Ali, the traditional ceremony often means a lot more to the people serving on the honor guard here, said Tech. Sgt. Dexter Laffin, 407th Expeditionary Services Squadron honor guard commander.
"We are here to pay tribute and honor to the troops here, and to fallen service members," said Laffin. "We also handle the American flag in accordance with established traditions. We do that by posting the colors at ceremonies, performing retreat and, although we hope it never happens, honoring fallen Airmen."
The 30-person honor guard encompasses practically all disciplines at Ali Base, he said.
"Just about every squadron has someone in the honor guard," he said.
The reasons people join the honor guard are just as varied as the disciplines represented by the small round tan and black badge honor guard members wear over the right breast pocket of their desert camouflage uniforms.
"My uncle is "missing in action" from the Korean War," said Staff Sgt. Aleena Corona, a services specialist deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. "My participation in the honor guard is my own way that I can show honor to him. I also love the honor, tradition and pride the honor guard instills in a person."
On the other hand, Airman 1st Class Kelly Ito, a force protection specialist from Vogelweh, Germany, wasn't able to work the honor guard into her home station routine.
"I was interested at home station, but never was able to join because of my work schedule," Airman Ito said. "Since I work a schedule that allows me to attend practices here, I volunteered to join. I enjoy the different style of drill that the honor guard does. It means a lot to me in knowing that I am part of an organization that brings honor and pride to our country and our flag."
That desire to be a part of honoring tradition and the United States is common to the men and women who volunteer to be on the honor guard.
"My favorite part of being in the honor guard is working with the team, and honoring those people who have sacrificed their lives in the past," said Staff Sgt. Sherwin St. Pierre, from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He not only participates in honor guard activities here, but he is on the Eglin team. "We represent the dedication to excellence of every service member through the discipline and perfection of our movements through every detail or ceremony."
The team practices once a week, said Laffin, perfecting their movements for either retreat or posting the colors (placing the American and Air Force flags on stage) during various ceremonies.
"Normally we start work on facing movements and the marching steps needed for our ceremonies for about 15 minutes of practice," said Laffin. "Then, we break into four person teams and practice retreat at the flag pole or posting the colors on the stage in the Big Top."
That not only requires precision and practice, but qualified people, like Sgt. St. Pierre and Staff Sgt. Michelle Stocker, to train the Airmen on those movements.
"I enjoy helping train everyone to learn their part," said Stocker, who is also from Dyess. She has volunteered to join the honor guard during each of her three previous deployments. "About 90 percent of the honor guard members are ready to do any ceremony, at a moment's notice."
As proud of the members of the honor guard are of the honoring the traditions and sacrifices previous service members have made, they are equally proud of their contributions to the Global War on Terrorism and giving Iraq the chance to choose a democratic society.
"I am very proud of what we are doing "over here," she said, 'to make our world a safer place to leave and to ensure that the citizens of Iraq will get the chance to celebrate their own independence."
Sgt. St. Pierre and Sgt. Corona agree.
"Our nation is doing a great thing by helping the Iraqi people create a system of government that their people will be able to control as they see fit," Pierre said. "I would hope that if the tables were turned, another country would support us and help return the control of our government back to the people."
"Anything that is worth fighting for is probably the best thing someone could have," said Corona. "If the Iraqi people want their freedom and we have the capability to help them, then we should do so."
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2006 08:21 |
| Story ID: | 7257 |
| Location: | ALI BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 42 |
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