Photo By Sgt. Melissa Martens | 1st Sgt. Joshua A. Peterson, Inspector-Instructor first sergeant, Company D, 4th Law...... read more read more
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Hundreds of friends and colleagues of former U.S. Senator Conrad Burns joined his family May 6, 2016, to pay their final respects at his memorial service at MetraPark’s Rimrock Auto Arena.
Burns served as a U.S. senator for three terms from 1989-2007. During the ceremony, those in attendance paid tribute to the many accomplishments he achieved while in the Senate and shared stories about his uplifting character.
“He was a funny guy,” said Bob Newman, assistant state captain for the Montana Patriot Guard for the eastern district. “He liked to joke around, but he was also very serious about his job.”
Burns served in the Marine Corps from 1955-1957. Marines with 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, performed full military honors during the ceremony to honor his service as a Marine.
The funeral detail consisted of a bugler, color guard, flag folders and a seven-Marine rifle detail, which fired three round volleys each in Burns’ honor. Military funeral honors are a way to demonstrate to a service member’s family the gratitude a military organization has for their loved one’s time in service.
“Every funeral is different, but every funeral is the same in the fact that they are all Marines,” said 1st Sgt. Daniel P. Botty, Company D First Sergeant, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve. “Regardless of the time they have served, the families show the same appreciation.”
Having a funeral detail at the ceremony of a fallen service member is a long standing tradition in the military. No matter when a person served, they are still remembered and honored for the sacrifices.
“We are a brotherhood and our brothers are the most dear thing to us,” said Sgt. Joseph A. Wirtz, platoon Sergeant, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve. “The Marine Corps ability to show that we care so deeply about our comrades, whether they are with us or no longer with us, shows not only our depth of commitment to them, but also that they are not forgotten.”
Marine Forces Reserve units and personnel provide significant support for military funeral honors for veterans. In calendar year 2015, they performed 91 percent (18,095) of all funeral honors rendered by the Marine Corps.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2016 17:03 |
| Story ID: | 197689 |
| Location: | BILLINGS, MT, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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