Military ceremonies and memorial services are rich in emotion, tradition and symbolism. These symbols, such as the ceremonial firing of rifles, are ingrained in American culture as trademarks of honor and dignity. Without these displays of patriotism, military ceremonies, including a memorial service or a veteran's funeral, would not hold the same significance.
By law, the Department of Defense requires two military representatives to be present at an eligible veterans' funeral -- with at least one of those representatives from the military service that the honored veteran had served in. The honor detail, usually volunteers, folds and presents the American flag and sounds Taps -- the melancholy bugle call played at military funerals. Details also provide honors at memorial services, usually with the M1 Garand ceremonial rifles.
The M1 Garand, the first standard-issue semi-automatic military rifle, is the model currently available for loan from the Army Donations Program, managed by TACOM Life Cycle Management Command's Integrated Logistics Support Center. After going into production in 1937, it was used primarily during World War II and the Korean War. While most were issued to U.S. forces, hundreds of thousands were provided as foreign aid to American allies. Now, the ceremonial M1 Garand is typically used by honor guards.
According to Mike Hefferan, the Army's lead donations officer, the M1 Garand is most frequently loaned to veterans' organizations for honor guard details at funerals as well as parades and Memorial Day events.
"These veterans take great pride in providing honor guard services to veterans' funerals, the community and the government," said Hefferan. "Our office takes great pride in being able to provide the resources these veterans need for the final send-off of their brothers and sisters."
At most military funerals, what many mistake for a 21-gun salute is actually an honor guard detail firing three volleys -- or the simultaneous firing of multiple rifles -- from the M1 Garand. This tradition comes from an old battlefield custom when the warring sides would cease hostilities to clear the dead from the battlefield. The firing of three volleys meant that the dead had been properly cared for and the side was ready to resume the battle. In honor of the deceased, the honor guard often presents the spent shell-casings to the family upon completion of the volleys.
In 1998, the TACOM LCMC, located in Warren, Michigan, inherited the Army Donations Program office from Rock Island, Illinois. Since then, TACOM has managed and shipped retired military rifles to eligible civilian organizations -- at no cost to the government. The program's eight-employee team is responsible for lending nearly 350,000 rifles across the country each year.
But these rifles aren't loaned out to the average Joe. The Secretary of the Army is authorized by Title 10 USC 4683 to conditionally lend or donate excess M1 rifles -- no more than 15 per organization -- for ceremonial use. Eligible organizations include:
• Local units of a veterans' organization recognized by the U.S. government; for example, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• Federally owned national cemeteries with a rotational honor guard detail.
• Veterans organizations with an IRS 501(c)(19) or 501(c)(23) nonprofit status.
• Law enforcement agencies with full arrest authority and created by statute.
Thanks to this program, approximately 25,000 civilian, veteran and law enforcement organizations across the U.S. use the M1 Garand to add ceremonial significance to an array of honor guard details and services.
The rifle program team isn't responsible just for the lending of equipment nationwide. It is also tasked with ensuring the quality and safety of the rifle before it is distributed. The M1 Garand fires blank ammunition, which is provided by a separate government program free of charge. Once an organization has received its rifles it may submit a request for blank ammunition.
When it comes to maintenance, cleaning and repairs become the sole responsibility of the borrowing organization. Any rifles issued since 1998 that need repairs must be examined by a licensed gun dealer, who will provide a repair estimate. These factors play a part in whether or not the program will offer a replacement for the rifle in question.
"We typically go on a case-by-case basis if the rifle is past the point of being repaired," said Audrey Clarke, chief of the Army Donations Program. "We'll look at usage and the cost to repair the rifle to determine if it's eligible to be replaced by the program."
Hefferan and Clarke both emphasized the magnitude of the duties of their office, but their hard work does not go unnoticed. They recently received a certificate of appreciation from the American Legion after expediting the lending process to ensure the Legion had the M1 Garand in time for their commander's funeral.
"As a civilian employee, supporting these individuals and organizations is rewarding enough. But a special thank you like that makes you walk out of here with a lot of pride," said Hefferan.
For more information on the Army's loans and donations programs, see http://www.tacomlcmccommunityreport.com/features/10.16donationsprogram.aspx.
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