|
Frank Leon
Commander |
 Any request for a
military funeral the Post receives is presented to our Honor
Guard commander, Frank Leon. Frank arranges all the
meetings, practices, and finally, the ceremony. He
also maintains the rifles used during the ceremony, as well
as the ammunition.
Post #6310's Honor Guard is also certified by the U.
S. Air Force, and participates in funerals conducted
by the Air Force.
The Honor
Guard from VFW Post #6310 of Tolleson, Arizona participates
in Memorial and Celebratory Services when called upon;
representing the VFW in general and specifically VFW Post
#6310.
Memorial Service requests are honored from any Veterans
representative for services within the local area.
Celebratory Services are accepted from local Civic
Organizations.
The Honor
Guard Service typically includes a prayer read by our Post
Commander and a prayer read by our Chaplain. The American
Flag which covers the casket is folded ceremoniously above
the casket into a triangle, and presented to the next of
kin.
 Our rifle squad, in close order drill, fires three volleys
with their M-1 rifles to honor the deceased veteran.
(The
practice of firing three rifle volleys over the grave
originated in the old custom of halting the fighting to
remove the dead from the battlefield. Once each army had
cleared their dead, it would fire three volleys to indicate
that the dead had been cared for and that they were ready to
fight again. The fact that the firing party consists of
seven riflemen, firing these volleys does not constitute a
21-gun-salute. It is the three volleys that are significant,
not the number of rifles. Three volleys fired over the
casket have become a tradition to mean the dead have been
cared for. It has evolved into a military salute for the
deceased serving their country. Firing the three volleys
over the casket is one of the highest honors to give a
deceased military veteran. Our nation’s highest honor is a
flag draped over the casket, folded and presented. Tradition
is to place three spent shell casings inside the folded flag
to prove now and forevermore that the deceased and his flag
have had proper military honors. Nothing else is to be
placed inside the flag.)
The finale is
a brilliant but haunting sound of "Taps" by our Honor Guard
bugler. This lasting tribute to our deceased veteran is
provided free of charge by VFW Post #6310, and it always
elevates this sad occasion by giving recognition, and
ceremony to those that served their country in the military.
|
Julio Martinez |
