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OKLAHOMA CITY -- As if through a fog, sharp clicks reverberated, cutting through the hush of the room and deliberately calculating the significance of time contained in that single, reverent moment.
Hup. Click. Two. Click. Three. CLICK. Four. CLICK.
Growing louder, immaculate blue uniforms appeared. Their crisp, steady movements fell in rhythm to the dependable and exacting count, interrupted only by sharp white flashes as the stage lights ricocheted off of the silver of their buckles.
“I was in shock and then awe,” recalled Laura Bettis, mother of four. “The whole day was a fog, but I remember the Guard — the hush and total quiet. It was amazing. Breathtaking.”
In Memory
That day was May 31, 2016 - the day of the memorial service for two of Laura’s sons, Phillip and Marshall Cabe. The room was filled with family and friends, many of whom saw her boys barely more than a week before the service while celebrating the years of their lives in a very different way.
Phillip and Marshall were visiting their father, Michael Cabe, in Hawaii when their skydiving plane went down during takeoff, May 23, 2016. Their deaths came just 13 days after Marshall’s 23rd birthday and two days after Phillip’s 25th.
Phillip, a former aerospace ground equipment apprentice with the 137th Maintenance Group at the now 137th Special Operations Wing in Oklahoma City, served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard for five years, including a stint in Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. When the Wing began its change from an air refueling mission to a special operations mission in 2015, Phillip’s career field was no longer essential to operations. With a difficult decision, he chose to separate in lieu of changing careers.
“Phillip loved the Guard,” said Laura. “He may have stayed in if it weren’t for his career field changing.”
Marshall also served in the Army ROTC at Cameron University, where both brothers graduated from.
Preparation
The memorial service was held inside Cameron University Theatre, near Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. The size, acoustics, stage, lighting and even military population acted as a fine microscope under which the 137th Special Operations Wing Base Honor Guard performed. On the lighted stage in the otherwise silent and dark theater, every movement could be scrutinized.
“It should be sharp, precise and purposeful, but it should also look effortless and smooth,” said Capt. Henry Pope, 137th Honor Guard officer in charge. “We don't rush our movements. We are there for a reason, and it's usually to honor our nation, our fallen or a veteran and those events should not be rushed.”
Whether it means presenting the colors during a military function, presenting the flag at a retirement ceremony, promoting unit recruitment and awareness, or performing military funeral honors - which can include service as pallbearers, a military rifle salute, the folding of the flag, the presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps - this attention-to-detail spans all of the events performed by the 137th Honor Guard.
At the Cabe memorial service, three members were selected and worked in sync to play Taps and then fold and present the flag to Laura in an already stunned-into-silence room.
“It’s heartbreaking to hear the family members mourn their loved ones,” said Senior Airman Sarai Chavez, 137th Honor Guard administrator. “However, I was honored that we were able to give the deceased a respectful and meaningful farewell.”
However, the ability to carry out the dignified performance and expression of honor does not come without sacrifice.
Before each performance or detail, members of the honor guard arrive at least an hour early to practice at the event location, ensuring those selected for the detail of the 17 total Airmen of the 137th Honor Guard have a hands-on refresher prior to the event.
“We would prefer to practice a few days out, but just-in-time practice is good so that the team can plan out all the details of routes, positioning and any other possible variables that would affect the smoothness of the detail,” said Pope. “Everyone is also able to be on the same page as far as roles and responsibilities, and it also shakes off the dust, so to speak, so the movements and timing of the team are in sync.”
Even before that, the 137th Honor Guard meets quarterly as a unit to ensure all members can perform any detail at a moment’s notice. This readiness includes keeping a professional image and an impeccable honor guard uniform, which can cost around 800 dollars each.
“We have to be highly selective with the individuals we choose,” said Pope. “We look for trainees that have been to several training sessions, which shows commitment, and we also have multiple conversations about that commitment. We impress upon them what it means to be chosen to wear the uniform and that is an honor not to be taken lightly.”
With Dignity
For honor guard members, the voluntary investment in time is nothing compared to the dignity in which they serve the U.S. and the fallen.
“I am the first generation in my family to be in the military, and its been a wonderful experience so far,” said Chavez. “I am honored to serve my country, and it’s more of an honor to serve those who served before me by being able to give them their last military honor.”
Each military branch has its own official honor guard stationed near Washington D.C., and most state installations have their own as well. The U.S. Air Force honor guard traces its roots to May 1948 when the newly formed Air Force Headquarters Command directed the creation of an elite ceremonial unit.
“In conducting our primary job of rendering funeral honors, there are members of the fallen member's family or friends that have never seen or met anyone in the Air Force or even the military,” explained Pope. “So in those times, we are the first and possibly the last time they will ever see anyone in the Air Force. It's an extremely moving experience to be that interface for them. We are at our best, representing the USAF and honoring their loved one.”
Together, honor guards service-wide represent every member, past and present, of every branch of the military.
Legacy of a Flag
This year, less than two weeks before the one year anniversary of her sons’ deaths, Laura celebrated her first Mother’s day without those sons. She and her family celebrated among memorabilia from the lives of her two deceased sons, including the flag that was handed to her during the memorial service by the 137th Honor Guard in honor of Phillip’s service to his state and nation.
“I cried,” said Laura as she recalled the moment she received the flag. “Watching the motions of everything before it and then them coming down to me and presenting this… It was just amazing. And to know that it was for me and for me to keep forever… and that it was for Phillip, was mind blowing.”
The flag now rests on the top shelf of Laura’s curio cabinet, one of the first things you see as you enter the house and step into the living room. She nestled it as if standing guard among the scattered and beloved belongings that represent her two sons’ lives.
For Bert Bettis, Laura’s husband of 14 years and Army honor guard veteran, the same flag evokes powerful memories and profound pride.
“It comes down to this: for anyone who has ever gone through basic military training or joined the service in any branch, the military is in their heart,” said Bert pointing over his shoulder to the displayed flag inside the open glass doors. “It’s in their mind. And even more so, it’s in their soul. They appreciate the honors, whether they are there to see it or not. That day, the Air Force couldn’t have honored our sons any [expletive] better than they did with the 137th Honor Guard. They performed an outstanding ceremony.”
Like ghosts
“On behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of the Air Force and a grateful nation, we offer this flag for the faithful and dedicated service of Phillip Cabe.”
After gently entrusting the folded flag to Laura, blue field of stars facing upward, the crisp, white gloves retreated into a dulling trail of clicks until only silence persisted. Left behind was a flag that represents a son and the legacy of millions of other servicemen and women who came before and will continue to come after him.
“They came like ghosts, performed what they needed to – very proudly and very honorably – and then left like ghosts,” Bert said of the 137th Special Operations Wing Base Honor Guard.”
Story was originally published on page 28 of the June 2017 issue of the "Air Observer." It may also be found at https://www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/36851.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2017 11:50 |
| Story ID: | 258248 |
| Location: | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Honor guard: Serving with dignity, by TSgt Kasey Phipps, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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