Photo By Staff Sgt. Tryphena Mayhugh | Airmen participating in the Ramstein Base Honor Guard program post the colors during a...... read more read more
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A reverent hush fell upon the room as the crowd of military members and civilians stood up from their chairs. Breaking the silence, a Ramstein Base Honor Guardsman barked out the orders for the detail to move forward and post the colors.
As the words to the German and U.S. national anthems ascended above the crowd, five base honor guardsmen stood rigidly at attention, holding the German, U.S., and Air Force flags for all to see.
One of those honor guardsmen was Airman 1st Class Don Royal Two Elk, 86th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician, who joined the honor guard to regain pride he lost earlier in his Air Force career.
“I came out here and it allowed me to get confidence in my abilities, to go out there and put some hard effort into a program,” Two Elk said. “My favorite part is the details; getting up there and showing them you care enough about honor guard and the military to have some motivation in your life to perform, practice, and put in the hours.”
The base honor guard performs a myriad of details such as posting the colors, pre-posting, two-man and six-man flag folds, and executing rifle movements during a number of ceremonies. Some of these ceremonies can take them to other countries and interact with the local nationals.
“My favorite ceremony was definitely when we went to a little village in France,” said Senior Airman Eric Feliciano, 721st Aerial Port Squadron fleet services specialist and a base honor guardsman. “It was so nice out there. The local nationals liked us and we were working with the French army. It was just a really good experience.”
Interacting with military members and civilians from another country is a rewarding experience for most people in the honor guard.
“It’s so great when you meet someone who’s from another country and they tell you how much they appreciate you,” said Staff Sgt. Terry Cooper, Ramstein Base Honor Guard noncommissioned officer in charge. “When they ask you to do something that seems as small as a small detail or flag fold, but it holds a significant place in their heart, and they mean that genuinely, it’s definitely rewarding.”
While day-to-day details usually involve change of command, promotion, graduation, and retirement ceremonies, sending a team to render honors for a funeral takes precedence over everything else. Three honor guardsmen are sent to each funeral for a two-man flag fold and a bugler.
“It’s definitely a humbling experience knowing you’re the last line of representation of the Air Force that people are going to see during the ceremony,” Feliciano said. “It’s an honor to be at your best to represent the Air Force for what it is. We’re showing what they or their loved one represented, what they fought or died for.”
The honor guard program teaches discipline and that every little thing matters. They meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 p.m., to practice each movement until it is perfect. These learned skills can also translate into other areas of life.
“It takes a lot of mental discipline to stand still up there and not be afraid or nervous,” Two Elk said. “If you keep that mental discipline it translates into other things. If you can stand still for 45 minutes, you can study for 45 minutes.”
The Ramstein Base Honor Guard program is comprised entirely of volunteers who sign a one-year contract. If they are deployed or sent on a temporary duty, the contract is frozen and picks back up when they return. Many of the guardsmen encourage others to try the program.
“I would definitely tell them to try it and not just knock it down,” Feliciano said. “It’s better for you to come out and say you didn’t like it then to not come out at all. If they haven’t been a part of a team, this is what we are; we’re a team and a family here.”
Airmen from all ranks and career fields are welcome. Even if they are single parents, in school, play sports, or are involved in another private organization, the honor guard will work with people who have a busy schedule.
“The criteria we’re looking for is pretty much anyone who wants to learn about our program, who is excited and interested,” Cooper said. “Anyone who is willing to challenge themselves professionally, personally, and mentally, we definitely want those guys to come out.”
The base honor guard program provides a venue for Airmen who are looking for another way to serve their community while learning a new skill set.
For more information about the honor guard program call DSN 480-5968 or commercial 06371-47-5968, or email at 86AW.Honorguard@us.af.mil.
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2017 04:17 |
| Story ID: | 245443 |
| Location: | RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, DE |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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