Funeral detail provides final honor

By Mrs. Melissa K Buckley (Leonard Wood)August 7, 2014

Funeral detail provides final honor
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Soldiers assigned to Fort Leonard Wood's funeral detail get one shot at providing final military honors.

The post's Casualty Assistance Center facilitates about 4,000 military funerals each year.

"This is the final opportunity for a grateful nation to provide recognition of a service member's contributions and express appreciation to the veteran's Family for their sacrifices," said Ronald Seymore, Casualty Operations coordinator.

Fort Leonard Wood is responsible for 88 counties in Missouri, and the states of Illinois and Wisconsin, and the upper peninsula of Michigan.

"For active-duty funerals, retiree and veteran funerals within the state of Missouri, we use the Installation Tasking Matrix which is published by the Directorate of Plans, Training, and Mobilization. The matrix rotates four teams throughout the month. For instance, during the month of August, the Chemical Brigade is the first team, the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is the second team, the Engineer Brigade is the third team, and the Military Police Brigade is the fourth team," Seymore said.

Nine Soldiers make a full team and seven Soldiers for a modified team.

A military funeral honors team for an active-duty Soldier provides planeside honors upon the Soldier's arrival at the designated airfield. Additionally, a military funeral honors team for the funeral of an active-duty Soldier consists of an officer or noncommissioned officer-in-charge, dependent on the grade of the deceased; pallbearers; firing squad; bugler or a Soldier with the ceremonial bugle or a recording of "Taps"; and a chaplain or minister upon request.

It is the same for a retiree and veterans, except if resources do not permit a full team, a service representative team of at least two Soldiers to play "Taps" and fold and present the flag to the next of kin are provided, upon request. At least one of the members of the team must be a member of the deceased veteran's branch of service.

First Sgt. John Zvirgzdins, Company A, 84th Chemical Battalion, 3rd Chemical Brigade, said his cadre form their unit's funeral detail team, but he doesn't let taking drill sergeants away from new Soldiers during a fixed schedule impact training.

"We adjust fire. It's not an interruption. It's an honor," he said. "We practice before work, during lunch, after work or on the weekends."

Practicing is crucial, according to Zvirgzdins, because there is no room for error during a funeral -- for the sake of the deceased and their loved ones.

"It is the last military honor this Soldier is going to get. We only get one chance," Zvirgzdins said.

"I have to leave my feelings out of the situation, so that my emotions don't overwhelm me. I turn Army mode on, deliver my lines and present the flag. Some Family members ask for personal things like the brass fired from the weapons during the volley salute. Some Family members thank us by giving us hugs," he added.

When Kathy Webber's father passed away this summer, Zvirgzdins' team served as the honor guard at his funeral.

"My Family suffered a great loss in the passing of my father, Master Sgt. Robert Wilson. Daddy was a 22-year veteran who served during the Korean and Vietnam wars," Webber said. "The honor guard team who provided honors at his burial service did an outstanding job. I was very impressed."

"My Family is grateful to the Soldiers for the wonderful job they did in sharing the discipline, the pride and the commitment of the Army with a veteran's Family in our moment of need," she added.

Zvirgzdins said he doesn't look at serving on a funeral detail as an additional duty.

"It may come down as a tasking, but I don't look at it like a burden. It is an honor to be able to serve on a funeral detail. I hope one day somebody does it for me," Zvirgzdins said.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood